The Beatitudes
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:1-3
The Setting of the Sermon
In Matthew 5:1, Jesus is withdrawing himself from the crowd so that he can specifically focus on teaching his disciples.
The instruction of the Sermon on the Mount was first and foremost intended for those who believed the message of Jesus and were committed to following him.
Why does this matter? As we read and study this, we must understand that the message contained in the Sermon on the Mount is for believers. This is not a message for the unconverted, but for the converted. This teaching is not for the unbeliever, but for the believer. These truths are for those who believe the message of Christ and are committed to following Christ.
The Demands of the Sermon
What people who love the Sermon often miss, however, is that it demands that believers live a life that is impossible to live.
The demands of this teaching are simply unattainable. While we may enjoy the seeming pleasantness of what we read in Matthew 5-7, we cannot ignore the impossible demands that Jesus places on the life of the believer.
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:3- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
There are several ways that this could be understood, but some of them are not valid options.
- It is not referring to materialistic poverty
- It is not referring to being poor-spirited
So, what does it mean?
1- It is recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy before God.
2- It is realizing your lack of spiritual resources
3- It is the inability to contribute to your spiritual life.
4- It is the opposite of being rich in pride and self-dependence.
Why is this listed first?
1- It sets the tone for the rest of the passage
2- It reminds us that this is not about trying harder
3- It shows us that this is for people who know they can’t do it on their own.