Blessed Are the Poor

[elijah23]

Who are the poor in these two Scriptures?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3 RSV

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.†Luke 6:20 RSV

 

[elijah23]

It seems to me in the Luke Scripture, Jesus is talking about people who don’t have much money. However, what does “poor in spirit†mean in the Matthew Scripture?

 

[Sparkey]

Elijah23, Greetings!

It seems to me that this is an "honest" question that you've brought and although I do NOT pretend that I've studied this particular question, perhaps we can look at the context and "glean" meaning by asking that the Holy Spirit answer into your heart.

I would like to jump down to another teaching in the same context and pull it here so we can look:

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Our Lord, the Christ, taught by the Holy Spirit -- something that the generation of that time (and beyond) needs to know:

• Mat 5:2 KJV - And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
  Mat 5:3 KJV - Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  Mat 5:4 KJV - Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
  Mat 5:5 KJV - Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
  Mat 5:6 KJV - Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
  Mat 5:7 KJV - Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
  Mat 5:8 KJV - Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
  Mat 5:9 KJV - Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
  Mat 5:10 KJV - Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  Mat 5:11 KJV - Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  Mat 5:12 KJV - Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
  Mat 5:20 KJV - For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

________________
"The Poor In Spirit" --- Seems to me that oft' times Jesus spoke in a thought provoking manner.

He went on to complete the picture of the ones He called (Jesus was speaking to the multitude):

• The Mourners [/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• The Meek[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• Those who are hungry for righteousness (and didn't pretend they had no need)[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• The Merciful[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• The Pure in heart[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• The Peacemakers (not those who loved to argue)[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• Those who suffered for the sake of Righteousness[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]
• The Reviled, the ones whom others lied about and brought false accusation against[/*:m:3mlmbnd8]

_________________
It seems to me that a direct comparison was being made as Jesus taught the "regular folk" the difference between them (and you also, Elijah23) and their leaders - the ones who, in their own sight - were righteous and had no need, who were "rich in spirit", the ones who held themselves up to be examples.

In conclusion, the one sent by God, was teaching us the path to God; Our Father, the ONE who searches hearts.

~Sparrow

 

[Mysteryman]

Who are the poor in these two Scriptures?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3 RSV

[quote:2ypx3try]And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.†Luke 6:20 RSV

[/quote:2ypx3try]


Hi

Sometimes the translators have a narrow window of words to use in order to translate a certain word. Such was the case here in Matt. 5:3

The word "poor" here , should have been translated -- humble -- Humility or humble in spirit.

 

[Sparkey]

Mysteryman, thank you, I agree and almost edited my post with an "afterthought" about humility.

Our God, who does indeed search hearts, commands us to be humble.
This does not mean that we are to go to the local Halloween Costume store and rent a "Sackcloth and Ashes" suit or that we are to go to the front of the church and beat our breast in false humility. Humility is not being taught to us here as an action to show outwardly. We are shown what true humility is and see the characteristics that flow from those who are.

Can we be "peacemakers" when we have no peace within our own selves?
Can we be "poor" or "humble" in Spirit when in fact we consider ourselves to be LOFTY?
Can anyone give to you something that they, themselves, do not have?

Consider the fact that God chooses the lowly (the poor or beggarly) of this earth to better show forth his Glory.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written:

• The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel TO THE POOR; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."

~emphasis mine

 

[Mysteryman]

Another verse that usually gives some people trouble. Is the verse that states - "Work out your salvation with trembling and fear" - Philip. 2:12

The word "trembling , should be "humility" and the word - "fear" should be the word "reverance"

It would be better understood if properly translated like this >

"Work out your salvation with humility and reverence"

 

[Sinthesis]

I will admit that my first thought was toward 'humble in spirit'. Yet ironically, it takes an insane amount of arrogance to want to rewrite the Bible. So in the spirit of humility let's assume the translation is correct and try to find the reason why the words 'poor in spirit' are used rather than 'humble in spirit'.

Strong's G4434 - pt?chos - ??????
Strong's G4151 - pneuma - ??????

In Matthew 5:3-12 Jesus is alluding to the coming of the Holy Spirit to His followers. Who is going to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become Christians? Those 'poor in spirit' etc.

Now one may have a humble spirit and be content to live as a spiritual pauper, oblivious to their need for a savior (Confucius Say?). Yet it is those who are not content with the trappings of this world (however grand or modest) who know they have a spiritual need and beggarly search for God. These spiritual beggars are those whom Christ is more than happy to save and serve by filling their cup with the gift of the Holy Spirit. However, one with a humble spirit is not an empty vessel; there is still a strong man in the house. If they are already filled with a humble spirit then there is no room for the Holy Spirit.

 

[Dave...]

Remember, not just 'poor', but 'poor in spirit'.

Anyways, from Macarthur's book called-- "Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus"...(a Great book, BTW), is a great example of what it means to be poor in spirit.

"A saint of many centuries ago got it right with this prayer:

"Lord high and holy, meek and lowly, let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess everything, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive. Let me find thy light in my darkness, thy joy in my sorrow, thy grace in my sin, thy riches in my poverty, thy glory in my valley, thy life in my death."

"Thy life in my death"? That's the true gospel. Jesus said it unmistakably and inescapably, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matt. 16:24-25). It's not about exalting me, it's about slaying me. It's the death of self. You win by losing; you live by dying. And that is the heart message of the gospel. That is the essence of discipleship.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed" literally means, "happy, supremely blessed."

The spiritually poor have a keen sense of their own sinfulness and need for God's grace. Being "poor in spirit" is foundational for us to receive the rest of the things listed.

Example of poor in spirit:
1. Luke 18:13 - "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

It takes an attitude of complete spiritual poverty to accept God's plan of salvation.


Dave

 

[Drew]

Yet ironically, it takes an insane amount of arrogance to want to rewrite the Bible.

Words of wisdom indeed.

 

[samuel]

When one comes to the point of loosing the self sufficiency, and vain pride that belongs to the natural man. And comes to realize he has no spiritual sufficiency within himself, or nothing he can offer God, but that all the sufficiency he has is in Jesus Christ. That is when one is said to be spiritually poor. But yet he has become rich, in Christ Jesus.

 

[Mysteryman]

When reading anything, the mind races to find the grasping truth from the writer. Sometimes it is convery correctly, and at other times it is not. For the most part, the reason the word "poor" is not conveyed properly, is because of a lack of understanding, for the most part.

A poor person does not have much to loose. While a rich man has much to loose. As well, a poor person has much to gain, but a rich man has little to gain.

To be poor in spirit,is to have much to gain.

If one was to translate the word "poor" from the greek. The word you would come up with is the word - "poor". :yes

Its not that the word was improperly translated. It is that the word does not convey properly ! At least to one's more modern understanding. We tend not to look back at the writtings with an mindset of that day and time. We tend to bring everything into the 21st century way of thinking.

For instance, we would find it strange, and not within our way of thinking in the 21st century ; for when or if a brother dies, and his brother had no offspring, for a younger brother to marry the older brothers wife and bring seed unto the elder brother. We have to give this much thought before we fully understand the day and time of its true meaning. Which is something we would not do today, nor do we see it being praticed.

To be poor in spirit, one has much to gain. Those who have no need for the Word of God, or the calling of God, are rich within their own lives and their way of thinking and believing. One who is poor is humble to receive. For he has much to gain by being humble to receive. As we are to give to the poor, to help them meet their needs. A poor person humbly accepts. A prideful poor person will not accept with humilty. This is why the Word tells us , that it is harder for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

Humility is one who is poor. Humility empties itself of all pride. Making itself available to receive.

So - poor is humility -- and humility is poor = interchangeable.