Spiritually Destitute

The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit The Beatitudes Spiritually Destitute (Matthew 5:3) Suppose you were given a piece of paper and were asked to write down what you really want out of life. What would you write? A multitude of things might be listed; but for many, that which is most desired is happiness. The world has gone to great extremes to find happiness. No one ever tried more ways to be happy than King Solomon. He sought happiness through worldly wisdom. What was his conclusion?... Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.... [T]his also is striving after wind. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain (Ecclesiastes 1:16 18). Solomon experimented with every conceivable amusement, including wine, women, and song (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 8). He became so rich that silver... was not considered valuable in his day (1 Kings 10:21). He sat down to meals of oxen, sheep, deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl (1 Kings 4:22, 23). He did not deny himself anything he thought might give him pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:10). What did he learn from all this? Behold all was vanity and striving after wind (v. 11b). Happiness cannot be found by those on the wrong road. It will always remain elusive to those unwilling to pay the price. We are beginning a study of Matthew 5:3 12. In this text 1 we find God s secret of true 1 Just before the sermon, I had one of the men read happiness what Hugo McCord called Happiness Guaranteed. 2 These verses are known as the Beatitudes. Beatitude is from the Latin word beatus, which means blessed or happy. 3 In the more common translations, each verse begins with the word blessed. Blessed is a translation of the Greek word maka rioß (makarios), which basically means blessed, happy. 4 It would not be a mistranslation to use the word happy instead of blessed as Phillips translation does: How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! How happy are those who know what sorrow means, for they will be given courage and comfort! How happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them! How happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for goodness, for they will be fully satisfied! Happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them! Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God! Happy are those who make peace, for they will be known as sons of God! Happy are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of goodness, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! Matthew 5:1 12 aloud. At this point, I said, In the text read a few moments ago.... 2 Hugo McCord, Happiness Guaranteed (Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Dehoff Publications, 1956). 3 Ken Palmer, Beatitudes (http://www.lifeofchrist. com/teachings/sermons/mount/beatitudes.asp; Internet; accessed 10 April 2008); James M. Tolle, The Beatitudes (Fullerton, Calif.: Tolle Publications, 1966), 6. 4 C. G. Wilke and Wilibald Grimm, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, trans. and rev. Joseph H. Thayer (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1901; reprint, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1977), 386. 1

We must be careful, however, not to define the words happy and happiness as the world does. Happy and happiness come from the old English word hap, which refers to an occurrence. 5 This kind of happiness is affected by the circumstances in which one finds himself. In the New Testament, however, makarios generally refers to the distinctive joy which comes through participation in the divine kingdom. 6 The AB expands the first part of verse 3 like this: Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit. Makarios is a word that describes real happiness, deep happiness, lasting happiness. Let me repeat that it is not affected by outward circumstances; it comes from what is inside. I like to think of it as happiness-plus. Do you desire happiness? Then stay with us as we study eight requirements 7 Jesus gave for having happiness-plus. This lesson is on the first of those requirements. BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT.... Many of us are so familiar with the Sermon on the Mount that we are unaware of the impact it must have had on those who first heard it. Jesus precepts were so revolutionary that, after each statement, He probably had to pause until the crowd quieted down enough for Him to continue. Almost every teaching of Christ went contrary to worldly wisdom and Jewish thinking. The first beatitude is an example of this: Blessed [happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Regarding worldly wisdom, this conflicts with what is considered necessary for getting ahead and being somebody. Regarding Jewish thinking, it was contrary to tradition. The Jews were a proud people, and they were proud that they 5 The American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed. (2001), s.v. happy. 6 Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich; trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, abr. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1985), 548. (Emphasis mine.) 7 Some think there are seven requirements (beatitudes), while others count nine. were proud. To all of these and to us Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit. What Poor in Spirit Does Not Mean What did Jesus mean by the phrase poor in spirit? We should first note that Jesus did not say, Blessed are the poor in pocketbook. It is true that those who are poor regarding material things are more likely to be poor in spirit (consider 1 Corinthians 1:26 29 and 1 Timothy 6:9), but it is possible to be impoverished and still have a proud, haughty spirit. Then there are those who have been blessed financially who are as humble and dependent on God as it is possible to be. 8 Money is not the decisive factor. God does not automatically condemn prosperity or bless poverty. We might also add that Jesus did not say, Blessed are the poor-spirited. 9 Some think they are poor in spirit because they do not love themselves; in fact, they despise themselves. That is not a fitting attitude for a child of the King. The Bible teaches that every soul is valuable in the sight of God (see Matthew 16:26). What Poor in Spirit Does Mean What, then, does the phrase poor in spirit mean? The word Jesus used for poor is ptwco/ß (ptochos). Ptochos does not mean merely poor; it has to do with being destitute, povertystricken. It was derived from a word that means to cower down or hide oneself for fear. 10 It refers to total poverty which reduces people to begging. 11 This is the word used to describe the beggar Lazarus: And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at [the rich man s] gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man s table (Luke 16:20, 21a; emphasis mine). The US is familiar with three classes of people: There are the rich, there are the poor, and there is the 8 A biblical example is Abraham. 9 It is not easy to distinguish between being poor in spirit and being poor-spirited. Some of the quotations given later indicate that the inspired writers considered themselves to be nothing. We need to understand that compared to a holy God, we are worthless; but, in the eyes of a loving God, we are of great value. 10 W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White, Jr., Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), 56. 11 Bromiley, 969. 2

large middle class where many of us find ourselves. In Bible times there were primarily two classes of people: the rich and the poor, the haves and the have nots. 12 In our text ptochos does not refer to those who have little; it refers to those who have nothing. It evokes the image of a beggar lying by the side of the road a beggar depending entirely on the grace of others, a beggar who knows he has nothing and will die if no one shows mercy to him! You and I must become spiritual beggars if we are to see the kingdom of heaven. We must recognize that we are spiritually destitute. Jesus said, in effect, Blessed are the ones who, in their self-estimation of their moral and religious capabilities, are beggars, knowing their spiritual desperation. Goodspeed s translation has Blessed are those who feel their spiritual need.... God has always wanted and commended those who recognize their spiritual need. David wrote, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise (Psalm 51:17). As we read that verse, we may think, But God commanded animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. When Solomon dedicated the temple, 120,000 sheep and 22,000 oxen were sacrificed, in addition to other animals, so many... they could not be counted or numbered (1 Kings 8:5; see v. 63). God responded by sending a cloud of glory to fill the temple (v. 10). Why, then, did David say that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit? Because the Lord would accept animal sacrifices only if they came from worshipers with broken and contrite hearts. Isaiah demonstrated the kind of spirit God desires. When he saw the High and Holy One, he saw himself as nothing. He said, Woe is me...! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips... (Isaiah 6:5). He later said that all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (64:6). When I consider what I have to offer to my unblemished Lord, I, like Isaiah, must say, Woe is me! A good example of what it means to be poor in spirit is found in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9 14). On the one hand, the Pharisee was self-righteous. 12 This is still true in many parts of the world today. He recognized no spiritual faults in himself and felt no need for divine help. On the other hand, the publican was poor in spirit. He realized he was a sinner, in desperate need of God s mercy. He prayed, God, be merciful to me, the sinner! (v. 13). Jesus concluded, I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other (v. 14a). There is no indication that the Pharisee was inaccurate in his list of virtues, but his prideful attitude condemned him. A man can be clean in morals, honest in business, and generous in giving, yet still be spurned by God if he is not poor in spirit.... FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Having noted what it means to be poor in spirit, we ask, What does this kind of spirit have to do with true and lasting happiness? Just having a poor-in-spirit attitude can help one find happiness. Many are miserable because they do not live up to their own expectations. One who is poor in spirit has taken an honest look at himself and, as a result, has put his trust in the Lord instead of in himself and the Lord will not let him down. However, according to our text, the chief reason the poor in spirit can be happy is that they have a special promise: Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This promise sustains them, regardless of what life may bring. What Is the Kingdom of Heaven? That leads us to ask, What is the kingdom of heaven, and how does being poor in spirit help us to receive it? Let us begin with the first part of the question: What is the kingdom of heaven? Some of the promises of the Beatitudes appear to center on this life, while others seem to be mainly concerned with the life to come. I have concluded that all the promises have partial fulfillment here and complete fulfillment in the hereafter. This is not inconsistent with happiness in general. A child of God can know basic happiness now, but in this life happiness will always be mixed with the sorrows of living in a world corrupted by sin. It is in the world to come that total happiness, unmixed and undiluted, will be ours. I believe this fulfillment in both the here and the hereafter occurs 3

in regard to the promise theirs is the kingdom of [God]. The word translated kingdom (basilei a, basileia) denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion. As a figure of speech, it refers to the territory or people over whom a king rules. 13 The kingdom of God refers to the reign of God. In the New Testament, we see two primary uses of the term kingdom. First is the body of people on the earth over whom God and Christ reign; these are known as the church. In Matthew 16:18, 19, Jesus used the terms kingdom and church interchangeably. When we are saved from past sins, God adds us to His church (Acts 2:47; KJV) 14 which is another way of saying that God transfers us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). At that point, the goal is to, as Friedrich Nietzsche said, become who you are. 15 Even though we already enjoy citizenship in God s kingdom, we must more and more allow the Lord to reign in our hearts. The second primary use of the word kingdom in the New Testament is the heavenly sphere over which God and Christ reign (see 2 Timothy 4:18) the realm we generally just call heaven. 16 I believe our text teaches that only those who are poor in spirit are qualified to be members of the church and that only the poor in spirit can have a hope of heaven. The blessings promised to those who are members of God s church and the anticipation of the blessings to be found in heaven must surely contribute to one s happiness. How Does Being Poor in Spirit Help Us To Receive the Kingdom of Heaven? We move now to the second part of our 13 Vine, 344. 14 The KJV uses the word church in Acts 2:47. Other translations do not, but the context indicates that Luke had in mind the church. 15 This phrase, popularized by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, was probably first used by the early Greek poet Pindar (Tony Hale, Become Who You Are: The Freedom to Create [http://www.anonymityone.com/ Faq97.htm]; Internet; accessed 24 April 2008). 16 It has been suggested that the kingdom of God refers to the church while the kingdom of heaven refers to heaven, but the two terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament (for example, see Matthew 19:23, 24). The context determines whether the writer had in mind the earthly kingdom or the heavenly kingdom. question: How does being poor in spirit help us to receive the kingdom of heaven? Remember the basic meaning of the word kingdom ; it has to do with the reign of God. No man is ready to enthrone God in his heart until he first dethrones himself. Then remember the two primary uses of the word kingdom in the New Testament: It refers to the church and to heaven. First, let us see how being poor in spirit is essential to becoming a member of the church. The church is the body of people saved by the blood of Christ (see Ephesians 5:23, 25). Children are taught a simple five-finger exercise regarding what we need to do to be saved by the blood: We need to hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. 17 One is not ready to hear the gospel (see Romans 10:17) until he realizes that he is spiritually destitute. As long as a person thinks he is in good condition spiritually, there will be no burning desire for salvation. Then one cannot believe in Jesus and confess his trust (see John 3:16; Romans 10:9, 10) as long as he trusts in his own goodness. What about repentance? The individual who feels self-sufficient is unlikely to think he needs to repent of anything. Further, one is not ready to be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41, 47) until he can acknowledge his absolute dependence on God s mercy to save him. The individual who is baptized just because others are doing so or because others expect it of him has not been scripturally baptized. It is occasionally said of some good person, All he needs is to be baptized. No, what he needs is a profound sense that, in spite of his goodness, he is nothing spiritually and has nothing to offer to God. Then, and only then, is he ready to come to the Lord in humble obedience. Finally, let us consider the second primary meaning of kingdom in the New Testament: heaven. Jesus said, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10c). No one is ready to live the faithful Christian life until he is poor in spirit. When 17 I use a simple finger exercise with children. I hold my index fingers like a cross and say, Jesus died on the cross for us. I then tap the fingers of one hand one at a time as I say, Now we need to hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. I finish by putting my hands together and spreading them far apart as I say, and then g-r-o-w. I do this several times, asking the children to do the actions with me. 4

Jesus diagnosed the church in Laodicea, He told them, You say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (Revelation 3:17). They thought they needed nothing when, in reality, they needed everything. CONCLUSION Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. To be blessed is to enjoy God s blessings and, as a result, to be truly and deeply happy, regardless of outward circumstances. To be poor in spirit is to realize that one is spiritually destitute, a spiritual beggar totally dependent on God s grace and mercy. The kingdom of heaven refers to the reign of God in the church and in heaven. What is the only conclusion we can reach? If we are to be happy and enjoy God s blessings now and in eternity, we must be poor in spirit. Our attitude needs to be that expressed in the hymn Rock of Ages : Nothing in my hand I bring: Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Vile, I to the fountain fly: Wash me, Savior, or I die. 18 The question each of us must ask is Am I poor in spirit? The opposite of being poor in spirit is to be rich in spirit : to be (as we say) full of oneself, to feel self-sufficient and to be self-satisfied. In Luke 6 Jesus gave another version of this beatitude, including both the positive and the negative: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God ; But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full (vv. 20, 24). Jesus may have been making some reference to the fact that He was more readily received by the financially poor (see Mark 12:37; KJV), but the wider application of His words corresponds to the beatitude in Matthew. Some are spiritually poor in their own estimation, while many are rich. Those 18 A. M. Toplady, Rock of Ages, Songs of Faith and Praise, comp. and ed. Alton H. Howard (West Monroe, La.: Howard Publishing Co., 1994). who are rich in spirit have already received their comfort in full in this life and have nothing to look forward to in eternity. How sad! Some of us do not like to admit that we cannot do everything ourselves, that we need help. My mind goes back to disastrous events in my boyhood disasters that occurred because I was embarrassed to admit I did not know how to do what I had been told to do, so I did not ask for help. I beg you, please do not be lost because you are too proud to admit that you cannot be saved without God s help, without His grace and mercy. Acknowledge your spiritual destitution and come humbly to your Lord. If you are in need of God s love, I urge you to come to Him even today. Notes You may want to call this lesson Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit or just Poor in Spirit. I have presented it using the title Spiritually Bankrupt. Hugo McCord entitled his lesson on the first beatitude You Have to Be a Beggar. He used two examples of being poor in spirit: (1) the Canaanite woman who did not react angrily when Jesus used the word dogs in Matthew 15:22 28 and (2) the Ethiopian nobleman who was not insulted when Philip asked if he understood what he was reading (Acts 8:26 39). If these individuals had been rich in spirit (proud), they would not have received God s blessings. David Roper Seven, Eight, or Nine Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3 12? Some would like to keep the number of beatitudes at seven because seven is a significant biblical number. One way this is done is by saying that verse 10 is, in effect, an expansion of verse 3 since they end with the same promise. Others note that the word blessed is found nine times in our text. They suggest that verses 11 and 12 are a separate beatitude from verse 10, and therefore count nine beatitudes. Most writers, however, stay with the usual listing of eight beatitudes and that is what we will do in this study. Of course, it is the content of the Beatitudes, not the exact number, that is important. Copyright, 2008 by Truth for Today ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 5