Articles
Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit
Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
As Jesus “opened his mouth and began to teach them” (Matt. 5:2), he relayed the duties of all who would follow after Him. These duties are reflected in short form in the Beatitudes, or “blessings”.
While forsaking materialism is a requirement of Jesus’ disciples (Luke 18:22) that possesses certain advantages (James 2:5), this is not the point in Jesus’ first blessing. Jesus says “poor in Spirit.” Being poor in Spirit is a lot like David’s statement in Psalm 51:17. Those with a “broken spirit” or in other words, those having “a broken and contrite heart” are under consideration in this Beatitude.
This results from the recognition of our own unworthiness and the unfathomable riches of Christ’s grace to forgive us. Those who make this recognition admit their brokenness and identify with the idea of being devoid of the Spirit. Upon this acknowledgement, a person seeks to be filled with the Spirit by appealing to the King. Jesus grants that appeal and offers the reward of the kingdom of heaven. So whether you are a Christian whose spirit has been crushed or need to become one, Jesus offers hope and a blessing!
