Blessed are the poor in spirit...

The study of the Beatitudes is always an interesting study.  Over the next few weeks we will be touching on each of these familiar verses from Matthew 5, and their corresponding verses from Luke 6. While there will be other topics intermingled, every few days we will be discussing one of the Beatitudes. 

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

In New Testament times, the Greek word which is translated "blessed" is the word makarios. It is translated into such words as blessed or honored, however the question arises, "Honored or blessed by whom?"  My first reaction is that it is a situation of being honored by God. Closer examination indicates the possibility of the meaning "honored by other people."

Leaving that word, let's consider the term "poor in spirit."  While we might understand the meaning of the word poor, there a several words from the Greek that are translated "poor" in the New Testament. One of those words carries the meaning of the working poor; those who struggle but are able to survive from day to day. Here the word is ptochoi which literally means, destitute. These are the people who are too old to work for their livelihood, or perhaps have some physical problem that prevents them from working. It can also apply to the homeless, the widows or orphans, all of which have no one to lean on for help with the physical needs.  These are the people whose resources have literally run out. In addition their inner resources have suffered as well. They are poor in spirit. 

Most of the men in that day had inherited the land which they lived on as children. The land had passed from one generation to the next, and it was the responsibility of the current owner to see that his land produced enough to feed his family and care for physical needs. We can also understand how the coming of taxation by the Romans or calamity within the family could force a person to sell his land, and there were always those just waiting to grab more land than they already had.  It became a situation of the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. 

Can you imagine how those in the crowd that were listening to Jesus teach that day, could hardly fathom the words from his lips when he said, "Honored are the destitute, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs?"  Didn't everyone assume the affluent of that day were the deserving ones to lay claim to the kingdom of heaven? That might be the normal assumption, but Jesus will ultimately call them shameful. 

In a time when no one was significantly richer than anyone else, there were suddenly power seekers who were right there to take advantage of those in trouble, usually by taking over their land.  In this case, it was their livelihood, and for some it was now gone.

The closer you look at Jesus, the more you will see his association with the destitute, the sinful, the hurting, the maimed. His love and compassion for them brought him to their rescue. And in this case we need to remember that Isaiah has prophesied the Messiah would come and preach good news to the poor. 

This Beatitude reminds us of how easy it is to become poor in spirit, having so many difficulties and struggles there is nowhere to turn.  Jesus offers good news when he teaches the poor in spirit are recipients of the kingdom of heaven. 

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