Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Matthew 5:3

Matthew shared how Jesus was “baptized” and “tempted” by the “devil”, and he shared how “angels” ministered to Him afterward. Jesus heard that John the Baptist was thrown into prison, and He left His hometown to dwell in “Capernaum” where He began His ministry. Jesus began to preach saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, and He called Peter, Andrew, James and John to be His followers. Matthew continued to share how Jesus' fame spread throughout Galilee, and many others were gathered unto Him. Then Matthew wrote, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him, and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying”, and in chapter five and verse three of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told them, “blessed are the poor in spirit” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit:” Matthew began with the word, “blessed” which means “oh how happy, supremely fortunate and well off” “are the poor” or “are the ones reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, lowly, afflicted, helpless and powerless to accomplish an end” “in spirit” which refers to “the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one”. Jesus' first instruction concerned people who are “lowly in disposition”.

The verse continues, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew added the words, “for theirs” which means “because, since and on account that those who are poor in spirit” “is the kingdom” or “is the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “of heaven” which means “belonging to the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. Jesus told His disciples that people who are “poor in spirit” shall have “Heaven's Kingdom”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how humility is imperative for those who will receive “the kingdom of heaven”. God desires to “save” every person who will yield themselves to His Son Jesus Christ, and those who realize they only have what has been given to them and cannot really boast of anything shall have God's kingdom in which to live eternally. The way to be “oh how happy” is through being “poor in spirit”, and those who are wise shall seek the Lord Jesus to know how that is demonstrated in their lives.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “blessed are they that mourn, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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