Matt 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
KJV
Poverty in Spirit Is A Kingdom Characteristic
As we study the Sermon on The Mount, and especially the Beatitudes, we must keep in mind that Matthew is writing in a Jewish context. He is writing about the Christ who was a Jew and came first to the Jews. The Christ was the King who was expected to come. He was/is the Messiah who is to rule over the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God). With this in view, we find Jesus declaring that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are poor in spirit. Thus, poverty of spirit is a characteristic of the residents of the Messiah’s kingdom. The Jews should have been familiar with this because of the fact that Jesus is referring them to Old Testament scriptures.
The Old Testament prophets spoke much of the Kingdom of God. Speaking through Isaiah, God said: “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” ( Isa 66:2)(KJV) The Lord will have communion with the man who realizes his emptiness before God, is broken because of his sinful state, and is fearful before God. This is the person who is poor in spirit. This, God declares, is the fundamental characteristic of Kingdom citizens.
Isaiah also tells us that there is only one who will be exalted in the Kingdom. “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” ( Isa 2:11-17)(KJV) There will not be an exaltation of men and God in that day. God alone shall be exalted. Men will bow down and worship the Lord Jesus Christ in that day. God’s glory shall be revealed in that day. “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab 2:14)(KJV) Again, Jesus was speaking of something with which the Jewish people should have been familiar. They should have been aware that God required humility. The scribes and Pharisees who were so familiar with the law should have know that the Kingdom would be populated with people who were poor in spirit. Unfortunately, they lived their lives with pompous, arrogant, and self-righteous spirits. Thus, what Jesus said to them was what they needed to remember. The Kingdom belongs to the Lord and those who are humbled before Him.
What Does It Mean to Be Poor in Spirit?
What does
it mean to be poor in spirit? We know
that it means that we will be humbled before the Lord, who shall be exalted
forever. Notice, also, that the Lord
said, “to this man will I look, even to
him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” ( Isa 66:2)(KJV) This
is contrasted with a group of people that God said “their soul delighteth in their abominations.” (Isa 66:3) (KJV) The person who is poor in spirit does not
delight in sin, but delights in the Lord (See Ps 37:4 and context). The poor in spirit will tremble at the word
of God. Why? Because he knows that God’s word shows him
his sinfulness and emptiness before God (See Rom
We also see that the person who is poor in spirit is a believer. “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5)(KJV) Is James speaking of those who are materially poor? In one sense, yes, because he is rebuking those who are mistreating poor people. On the other hand, James is calling for humility, or for people to be poor in spirit. The poor of whom James speaks are the poor in spirit whose faith is in Christ. All who are rich in faith are poor – poor in spirit. These are those who are saved. “The scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 10:11)(KJV) Whether one has riches or is poor, if they are trusting Jesus they are poor in spirit. Habakkuk spoke plainly concerning this: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”(Hab 2:4) (KJV) The just man is a man of faith as contrasted with the man whose soul is lifted up. To be poor in spirit is to realize our emptiness before God, and to trust Jesus as our savior. This is why Paul stated, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom 4:4,5)(KJV) Thus, it is safe to say that Jesus is telling us that the first characteristic of Kingdom citizens is that they are justified by faith and are not depending upon their own righteousness. This is what it means to be poor in spirit.
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit
The poor in
spirit are happy people. That is
definitely different from popular ideas about humility, isn’t it? Often the humble person is thought of as one
who is downtrodden in appearance and mannerism.
We often picture the poor in spirit in the same manner as we would envision
a whipped puppy. This is not the
Biblical portrayal of the one who is poor in spirit, though. Jesus said that the person who is poor in
spirit is very happy. Why? Firstly, because he is heir
to the
The person
who is poor in spirit is also happy because he is not in competition with those
around him. In fact, the person who is
poor in spirit is similar to John the Baptist who spoke of Jesus saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
(John 3:30) (KJV) Though there were
those who thought there was reason to be concerned because Jesus was getting more
attention than John, John told them that all that was important was Jesus being recognized.
Being poor in spirit is when we are willing for Jesus to be exalted
above all and ourselves satisfied to fade into the background. On the other hand, James spoke of the
competitive spirit as being the cause of contention and the result of
pride. He also called for men to humble
themselves. “From whence come wars and fightings among
you? come
they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to
have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not
that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye
think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit
that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But
he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves
therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be
afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and
your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves
in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:1-10) (KJV) The poor in spirit are willing to humble
themselves before God, cleanse their hearts and lives, resist the devil, and
remove envy from their hearts. This
brings happiness because one is not worried about fighting to get the recognition
they feel themselves to deserve. He is
also glad to see his brother blessed instead envying him because he thinks that
he deserves the blessing more than the one who received it. Being poor in spirit gives us freedom to
rejoice in Jesus by trusting Him to give us our blessings, and gives us the
peace that comes from being content with what Christ gives to us. We have the greatest gift that could be
given, the Kingdom of Heaven. Why should
we not be happy? It should certainly
humble us to think that God loves us enough to receive us sinners into His
Kingdom.