MATTHEW 5:1-12
⇒ He prefers something else to it. ⇒ He is unconcerned about it.
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(5:3) Poor in Spirit: to acknowledge spiritual poverty. It is poverty, absolute and abject poverty of spirit. It is being des-
titute and conspicuously poor in spirit. Note several significant facts about the “poor in spirit.”
1. Being poor in spirit does not mean that a man must be poverty-stricken and financially poor. Hunger, nakedness,
and slums are not pleasing to God, especially in a world of plenty. Christ is not talking about material poverty. He means
what He says: poor in spirit. Being “poor in spirit” means several things.
a. To acknowledge our utter helplessness before God, our spiritual poverty, our spiritual need. We are
solely dependent upon God to meet our need.
b. To acknowledge our utter lack in facing life and eternity apart from God. To acknowledge that the real
blessings of life and eternity come only from a right relationship with God (see note—Eph.1:3; cp. Jn.10:10;
Gal.5:22-23).
c. To acknowledge our utter lack of superiority before all others and our spiritual deadness before God. To
acknowledge that we are no better, no richer, no more superior than the next person—no matter what we
have achieved in this world (fame, fortune, power). Our attitude toward others is not proud and haughty,
not superior and overbearing. To be “poor in spirit” means acknowledging that every human being is a real
person just like everyone else—a person who has a significant contribution to make to society and to the
world. The person “poor in spirit” approaches life in humility and appreciation, not as though life owes him,
but as though he owes life. He has been given the privilege of living; therefore, he journeys through life with
a humble attitude and he contributes all he can to a needy world out of a spirit of appreciation.
2. The opposite of being “poor in spirit” is having a spirit that is full of self. There is a world of difference between
these two spirits. There is the difference of thinking that we are righteous versus acknowledging that we need the righteous-
ness of Christ. There is the difference of being self-righteous versus being given the righteousness of Christ. Self-
righteousness goes no farther than self; that is, it goes no farther than death. Self dies and everything with self including our
self-righteousness. But the righteousness that is of Christ lives forever. (See notes—Ro.3:21-22; note 3 and DEEPER STUDY
# 1—Gal.2:15-16; DEEPER STUDY # 2—2:16. See outline and notes—Ro.10:6-7.)
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference” (Ro.3:21-22).
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteous-
ness of God in him” (2 Cor.5:21).
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Ph.3:9).
3. Two critical steps are taken by the person who truly acknowledges his spiritual poverty.
a. He turns his primary attention away from the things of this world. He knows things can never make him
rich in spirit.
b. He turns his primary attention to God and His kingdom. He knows God alone can make him rich in spirit (see
note—Eph.1:3).
4. The “poor in spirit” are weary and burdened for the world. They know the truth of this world and of eternity. There-
fore, they have set their faces to do their part for both.
a. They are weary of the deceptive appearances and enticements of this world. They have learned that “all is
vanity [empty]” and all is corruptible. All waste away, even human life itself. Therefore, they feel weary and
burdened for those who are still lost in the world.
b. They are weary from having labored so much to reach their generation. They have labored to serve and
make their contribution as God has called them. They have toiled so laboriously for one reason only: the
love of Christ constrained them to reach their generation (2 Cor.5:14).
5. The “poor in spirit” are those who approach the world as a child (see notes—Mt.18:1-2; DEEPER STUDY # 2,3,4—
Mk. 10:14. These notes give an excellent description of what it means to be “poor in spirit.”) All children are very, very pre-
cious to God and are given angels to look over them (Mt.18:10 cp. Ps.91:11).
DEEPER STUDY # 2
(5:3) Poor in Spirit—Reward—Kingdom of Heaven: the “poor in spirit” are blessed with the Kingdom of Heaven (see
DEEPER STUDY # 3—Mt.19:23-24). The “poor in spirit” inherit three significant things.
1. The poor in spirit receive forgiveness of sin and God’s continued remembrance: the assurance that God will never
forget.
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remem-
ber no more” (Heb.8:12).
“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb.10:17).
“He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand gen-
erations” (Ps.105:8).
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know
the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the
LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer.31:34).
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