QUESTION: Hello pastor, When God says ‘the poor in spirit’, what does He mean? I have searched for the meaning of the word ‘beatitudes’ and it is translated as supreme ‘blessedness’. Why did God choose these particular things as the highest in manner of being blessed? Lilacy.
RESPONSE: Today’s question is alluded from the greatest sermons of all time, preached by our Lord Jesus Christ before a multitude.
Known as the ‘Sermon on the Mount’, it is one of the most famous sermons in Bible history.
The Lord made several statements in this sermon, and one for them was; “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
What is a beatitude?
Jesus begins this teaching with the beatitudes. This word is not found in the Bible, but it is traditional name given to the eight blessings declared by the Lord in Matthew 5.
Some have termed it as ‘Be-Attitudes’ which is not correct, because the passage talks about a special kind of blessing upon a particular group/individuals.
The word beatitude comes from the Latin word ‘beati’, which means ‘happy’, and in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, each of these sayings begins with the word, ‘Beati’ or ‘Happy are’.
In the English language, however, ‘happy’ implies something different from what is in the biblical message. In original Greek, each of these sayings begins with the word ‘Makarios’, which is best translated as ‘blessed’.
‘Blessed’ and ‘happy’ mean different things in English. One could be blessed regardless of the mood or the reverse.
A Beatitude, therefore, is a blessing that transcends situation.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus names eight specific blessings that those who believe in Him should not only have, but aspire to be as well.
They are not a chore list of things that we must master or become, through our strength but are made available to us through Christ.
The poor in the Spirit
The first blessing is the blessing of ‘the poor in spirit’. Some teachers in the past and probably in the present have used this beatitude to defend material poverty.
There is no blessing in being poor. Jesus said that ‘blessed are the poor in spirit’, not in wealth.
The poverty in spirit is what we should dwell on, as we seek to understand the Lord.
In the Greek New Testament, the word poor is translated as ‘Ptochos’ and ‘Penes’.
However, I have been looking at the Greek translation of the following verses: Matthew 5:3, Matthew 26:11 and 2Corinthians 9:9 focusing on the word ‘poor’. I think the Greek manuscripts confuse Ptochos and Penes.
To me, it is ‘wrong Greek’ to use Penes in 2Corinthians 9:9 and wrong to use Ptochos in Matthew 26:11, because the poor in there are not poor in spirit but materially poor.
In Matthew 5:3, Ptochos is rightfully used because the poverty discussed here is spiritual.
Good interpretation does not only focus on grammar and syntax, but also holds context and theology in perspective.
To be ‘poor in the spirit’ in Matthew 5:3, therefore, means to be entirely destitute and dependent on God, and not to have anything spiritually to boast about.
Rich in spirit
When your relationship with God depends on going to Church, Bible studies, prayer and fasting groups, playing in worship bands, mission trips, feeding the homeless, and dedicating your career to Him, then you are rich in spirit.
And the rich in spirit are not blessed as the poor in spirit. They are self-righteous and not in need of the righteousness of God.
A Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 was rich in spirit, while the tax collector in the same parable was poor in spirit.
We see the poor sinner being blessed and accepted, while a spiritual braggart Pharisee is rejected.
In Jesus’ words in verse 14 we are told: “I tell you that the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified before God.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Called to poverty
Spiritual poverty is a necessity for every Christian to stay blessed in the Lord, yet spiritual wealth is as dangerous as sin.
To be spiritually wealthy is to be independent of God and dependent on the works of one’s religion.
Spiritual poverty is a constant display of the need for God in your life.
We are called to “poverty of spirit” where we depend on God.
Being poor in spirit is helplessness to save oneself and that is the initial stage of one’s salvation.
Our talents, abilities, wealth, and achievements are but sinking sand.
Heavenly Kingdom entrance begins with an overwhelmingly helpless feeling of spiritual poverty and bankruptcy of the soul.
Answered by
Pr Isaiah White.
