BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
By John C. Carpenter
In the book of Matthew, we read: After seeing the multitudes around
Him, Jesus went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came unto him, and He opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed
are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are
the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you (Matthew 5:1-12). Jesus listed several conditions which will result in blessing: they that mourn, the meek,
they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake, the reviled, and those who say all manner of evil against you falsely. Jesus also mentioned the one condition
which may well be the most misunderstood and problematic in all of Christendom. He also said, Blessed are the poor in spirit. We should
ask, then, what does it mean to be poor in spirit? Who are those who are poor in spirit?
In verse 3 above, the word poor is translated
from the Greek word ptochos, which means to crouch, be a beggar, to cringe, or to be distressed. The Websters New Collegiate Dictionary
defines poor as lacking material possessions, small in worth, or inferior in quality or value. Poor can also mean lean, emaciated,
humble or unpretentious. Within the context of our subject verses, poor can be defined as having or being small or little, causing
us in our distress to crouch and beg in humility.
The word spirit is translated from the Greek word pneuma, which means a breath,
the rational soul, vital principle, mental disposition, life, or by implication, self. In the context of our subject verses, pneuma is
a reference to the spirit of man, his soul, his self, life, or personality, and not the Holy Spirit of God. The Webster's New Collegiate
Dictionary defines spirit as an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms, a temper or disposition of mind,
the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person, or a character or disposition of a specified nature. Probably the best definition
of spirit in the new testament is what is referred to as the self or life.
The individual who is truly poor in spirit considers
himself small in worth and and inferior in quality or value, in comparison to God. He or she is an humble and unpretentious beggar
before the magnificence and glory of God. Poor in spirit can also be defined as submissive in personality; not determined to have
his or her own way, or to dominate. The poor in spirit have given up their own life and will for the sake of Christ and His Kindgom.
One
of the best analogies of being poor in spirit can be found in the wild west concept of the bronc buster cowboy who attempts to break
the independent, rebellious spirit of the the wild and untamed horse. At the beginning of this breaking process, the horse rejects
all efforts of the cowboy, rejects the reins designed to control the horse, rejects the blanket that goes under the saddle, rejects
the saddle itself, and then rejects any and all attempts of the cowboy to mount him, ride him, and control him. The horse is in a
total rebellious state – his eyes are red and wide, his nostrils are flared, he salivates uncontrollably out of his mouth. He kicks,
bucks, and stomps, he jumps, he rares, and he whinnies. Initially, the horse wants nothing to do with those who are trying to break
and control his spirit, so to speak. Eventually, though, if for no reason other than fatigue, the horse surrenders his will to that
of the cowboy. At the cowboy's request, the horse will accept a bridle and saddle and rider. He submits to the will, control and direction
of the rider. The horse's original condition was spirited or rich in spirit; he was independent, full of self-will and was completely
rebellious against control of the rider. His latter condition, was one of brokenness, or poor in spirit, humility, and submission
to the will of the rider. Spiritually speaking, as with the horse, the man who is rich in his own spirit is rebellious against the
will of his heavenly Father; while the man who is poor in his own spirit has become submissive to the will of his heavenly Father.
I
SEEK NOT MINE OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER
Since being poor in spirit is essential to our relationship with God the Father,
what do the scriptures have to say about having poverty of spirit? What are some of the scriptural examples of being poor in spirit?
First
of all, one who is poor in spirit does not depend upon himself, but is totally dependent upon his or her heavenly Father and completely
submissive to His will. Christ, Himself, told some Jewish leaders who wanted to kill Him, I can of mine own self do nothing: as I
hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me (John 5:30).
Elsewhere, Jesus explained to Judas that if the believer in Christ wants to bear much fruit, he or she must be completely obedient
to and dependent upon the Lord: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5).
James, a servant of God, taught, Let the brother of low degree [Greek, tapeinos,
depressed, base, humble, lowly] rejoice in that he is exalted (James 1:9), while the apostle Paul taught, Your glorying [Greek, kauchema,
boasting, rejoicing, to vaunt] is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven [fermenting, boiling up, hypocrisy, malice, wickedness] leaveneth
the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened [Greek, azumos, uncorrupted]. For
even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice
and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
The psalmist, David, teaches us about
poverty of spirit with these words: The sacrifices [slaughter, offering] of God are a broken [Hebrew, shabar, break into pieces, broken,
crush, destroy, to tear] spirit [Hebrew, ruach, air, breath, wind, life]: a broken and a contrite [Hebrew, dakah, to collapse physically
or mentally, break, crushed, injured, to crouch] heart, O God, thou wilt not despise (Psalms 51:17). David adds, The LORD is nigh unto
them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit (Psalms 34:18).
Even John the Baptist revealed his
own humility and poverty of self when, referring to Christ, said, Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ,
but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth
him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase [Greek, auxano, grow,
enlarge], but I must decrease [Greek, elattoo, lessen, decrease, make self lower]. He that cometh from above is above all: he that
is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all (John 3:28-31).
WHOSOEVER WILL
LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT
Jesus instructed His own disciples about the value of giving up ones' own life through
poverty of spirit and death to our own self will: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is
a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew
16:24-26).
In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul referred to his poverty of spirit when he wrote, For we would
not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch
that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence [judgment] of death [Greek, thanatos, death literally or figuratively, to
be dead to our own desires] in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead (2 Corinthians
1:8-9). Paul was not only willing, but eager, to give up his own will, life, and self in obedience to the Lord.
Christ, Himself,
connected poverty of spirit resulting in service with exaltation by God the Father when He said, he that is greatest among you shall
be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble [become poor in spirit] himself shall
be exalted (Matthew 23:11-12). Jesus specifically taught His own disciples, If any man desire to be first [foremost, superior, chiefest],
the same shall be last [Greek, eschatos, farthest, final in place or time, latter end, lowest, uttermost] of all, and servant [attendant,
deacon, minister] of all (Mark 9:35).
I DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM
Without a doubt, the greatest example of
what it means to be poor in spirit is found in the humble, broken, serving, and saving ministry of Christ. Paul and Timotheus wrote
the church in Philippi, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation [Greek, kenoo, to make oneself empty, to abase or neutralize oneself, make
of none effect, to void, or to become in vain], and took upon him the form of a servant [Greek, doulos, to voluntarily become a slave,
to be in subjection or subservient to, to be a bond servant], and was made in the likeness [Greek, homoioma, to resemble, make like,
in similitude to] of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled [Greek, tapeinoo, to depress oneself, to be humiliated in
condition or heart, to be abased, brought low] himself, and became obedient [Greek, hupekoos, to attentively listen, be submissive
and obedient] unto death, even [specifically] the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8). Although He was like God the Father, Christ
emptied Himself of His own spirit and will, willingly and eagerly became subservient to the plan and will of God the Father, which
was death on the cross. Wow! Now, that is true poverty of spirit.
In addressing some Jews, Jesus referred to His own ultimate
poverty of spirit: Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up [via my own crucifixion] the Son of man, then shall ye know that
I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the
Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him (John 8:28-29). With these words, Jesus addresses His
complete humble submission and obedience to His heavenly Father. Living 24 hours a day to please completely the God of creation is
the best example of being poor in spirit.
Teaching His own disciples, Jesus connected greatness in the Kindgom of heaven to childlike
humility and poverty of spirit: At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso
shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Matthew 18:1-6).
Holy scriptures also clearly correlate humility, meekness, and
poverty of spirit to sacrificial love: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13),
and Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren(1 John 3:16).
Jesus taught some Greeks about the value of humility and poverty of spirit when He told them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die [give up our own spirit and self
in order to become completely obedient to God], it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth [Greek,miseo, to detest, to allow to be persecuted, love less] his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me,
let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour (John 12:24-26).
When the believer in Christ is willing to fall to the ground and die, and to love his life less through obedient sacrificial service
to Christ, he shall not only bear much fruit in this life but receive eternal life as well.
During the last passover that Christ
ate with His disciples, the Lord referred to His own poverty of spirit resulting in His own sacrificial death when He said, ...This
is my body which is given [in complete poverty of spirit] for you: this do in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19). Without Christ's poverty
of spirit, there would have been no sacrificial death or eternal salvation.
Christ's complete poverty of spirit, self, and soul
resulting in absolute obedience to the will of His Father in heaven can be seen in the hours just prior to the suffering and sacrificial
death of Jesus. Scriptures teach us, And he [Jesus] came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples
also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from
them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless
not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed
more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:39-44). Anticipating His own
suffering and crucifixion, Jesus was in such agony that His sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground; yet Jesus,
in His complete poverty of spirit, was willing to be completely obedient to the will of His Father in heaven, even if that will included
suffering and death on the cross. There is no greater poverty of spirit than when we are, in obedience, willing to give up our own
life in service to God the Father.
To His own disciples, Jesus detailed His calling, mission, and purpose with these words: For
even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Ministering
to others and giving our lives a ransom for many, as Christ did, reflects our poverty of spirit in obedience to God the Father.
BLESSED
ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
Jesus instructed the multitudes around Him that there is a definite connection between poverty of spirit
and temporal and eternal life. He said, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Christ promises that
the poor in spirit, that is, those who have denied themselves of their own self, soul, personality, preferences, desires, comfort,
needs, will, and plans, and have submitted in full obedience to Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father, shall not only receive
the Kingdom of heaven, but receive many rewards in the Kingdom as well.
If the poor in spirit are blessed, what does it mean
to be blessed? In verse 3 above, the word blessed is translated from the Greek word makarios, which means supremely blessed, fortunate,
well off, or happy. Matthew teaches here that the poor in spirit are supremely blessed, fortunate, well off, and happy, and that theirs [the
poor in spirit] is [the result and fruit of] the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). Later, Matthew adds, Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew 5:12). The poor in spirit shall
not only inherit the Kingdom of heaven, but also receive great rewards when they arrive. AMEN.