BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
INTRODUCTION
A. (Mt.4:23; 9:35) Couched in between Matthew’s summary statements about Jesus’ mission in teaching, preaching, & healing is a collection of sayings we have come to call The Sermon on The Mount. The beginning of this sermon contains what has come to be called “The Beatitudes” (v3-10).
B. (Mt.5:1) Jesus’ audience probably consisted of a circle of His disciples close to Him surrounded by a larger circle of the curious onlookers because of the statement we find at the end of this sermon (Mt.7:28).
C. (Mt.5:3-12) Jesus pronounces certain people fortunate because of certain attitudes. We call these “The Beatitudes” from the Latin word for happiness/blessedness
I. THE NATURE OF THE BEATITUDES
A. Consider what we have in these beatitudes.
a. total 8 in number
b. V11,12 appear to be an expansion of v10
c. the unit begins with (v3) & ends with (v10) – both having the phrase “for there is the kingdom of heaven”
d. notice the tense of the promises in (v4 – v9) – “they shall,” but in (v3) & (v10) the promise is present – “their is”
a. blessings of the kingdom
b. the “kingdom of heaven” brings comfort, inheritance, righteousness, mercy, vision of God, & the appellation of “son of God”
B. The beatitudes are announcements of how fortunate people are who already possess the power of God’s kingdom. They have the kingdom power working within them & Jesus is congratulating them - "Blessed."
C. These beatitudes are reasons to celebrate if you are one of Jesus’ disciples, but for those who are not these beatitudes is an invitation to awake & participate in the kingdom’s power.
II. BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
A. (Mt.5:3) First, we will consider what it means to be “poor in spirit,” second we will observe what its opposite is, & third, look at some examples.
B. First, “the poor in spirit” are people who aware that they have made a mess out of their life & in their wretchedness they seek divine help.
C. Second, the opposite of “the poor in spirit” are those who are self-reliant.
a. some people believe it is weakness to not be self-reliant
b. they view Christianity as a crutch
c. spiritual cripples need a crutch & everyone is spiritually crippled (Rom.3:10) Jesus came to help cripples (Mr.2:17)
d. the biblical solution for people who recognize their sinfulness & unworthiness is not self-esteem, but reliance upon God's grace
D. And third, consider the following biblical examples of people who were “poor in spirit:”
a. David (Psa.52:1,2)
b. Isaiah (Isa.6:5)
c. the prostitute (Lu.7:37,38)
d. the prodigal son (Lu.15:18,19)
e. the tax collector (Lu.18:13,14)
f. the centurion (Lu.7:6-9)
g. the Canaanite woman (Mt.15:25-27)
h. Peter (Lu.5:8)
i. Paul (Rom.7:18; 1Tim.1:15,16)
CONCLUSION
To be “poor in spirit” means you are aware of your helplessness; that you are spiritually bankrupt & morally unclean & want Divine help. God can & wants to help you. If you realize you have made a mess out of your life & you want help, then Lord congratulates you – “Blessed are the poor in spirit for there is the kingdom of heaven.”
You are fortunate because with that spirit you are seeking His help & He will not let you down.