The Sermon on the Mount
Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
January 5, 2025
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-3
A mother and her 15-month-old daughter, Anna, were walking home from a friend’s house. While they were walking, Anna kept stopping and laying down on the sidewalk. Mom would put her back on her feet and say, “I cannot carry you, keep on walking.” However, after walking another half a block, Anna once again lay down on the cement looking at the sky. Mom then stopped and looked at her daughter. She then got down on the ground with Anna and looked up and saw the most amazing display of stars in the summer night sky that she had ever seen. So often in life, we are in such a hurry to get where we are going or do what we want to do that we miss what the Lord wants to teach or show us.
In Matthew chapters 5-7, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus slowed things down and taught. He taught so the people would expand their understanding of God, their view of righteousness and godly living.
Saint Augustine described the Sermon on the Mount as a perfect standard of the Christian life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer based his classic book The Cost of Discipleship on an exposition of the Sermon on the Mount. Even unbelievers like Gandhi were impressed and impacted by the message of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount speaks volumes to each one of us.
So, over the next weeks as we go through the Sermon on the Mount, I hope that each of us can slow down, grasp and apply Jesus’ teaching. So, let’s begin.
Matthew 5:1, 2a states, Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
At the end of Matthew chapter 4, we read Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. Of course, news spread, and large crowds began to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:23-25).
Jesus in response to the large crowds went up on a mountainside, sat down and began to teach. Sitting down was the typical way a rabbi would teach in the synagogue. Matthew indicates that His disciples came to him. In a parallel passage, Luke 6:19-20, indicates that the crowd wanted to touch him. It does not indicate that he went up a mountain and sat down, but simply he lifted-up His eyes or gazed toward His disciples.
Jesus focused on giving this teaching to his disciples. Matthew 7:28 indicates the multitude was also listening as it says, When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching.
Then Jesus said, verse 3, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus begins teaching what is often referred to as The Beatitudes. The word beatitude comes from the Latin word meaning blessed. The word “blessed” is used nine times in Matthew 5:3-12. The word simply means “happiness” or “happy. So, you could read the Beatitudes this way, Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Happy are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Happy are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Happy are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy….
So, the Beatitudes reveal a prescription, basic principles of how to be genuinely happy or experience inner joy and fulfillment. So, Jesus expounds on the keys to real happiness, an inner joy and peace. It comes with being right with God, abiding in Him. This inner joy transcends what happens in the world around us. It is a state of inner joy and peace, a state of wellbeing in which God desires his children to live.
Sadly, most people often think true happiness comes from possessions, positive circumstances, or relationships. There may be temporary gratification in the pleasures of sin, but it brings God’s curse and not his blessing.
Jesus came, he told us, not to destroy life but that we may have abundant life (John 10:10). C.S. Lewis was once quoted as saying that he never chose Christianity because he wanted to be temporarily happy, he always knew a bottle of whiskey could do that. The Christian life is filled with anguish over our spiritual poverty. The Christian life is filled with anguish over hungering for a righteousness which keeps eluding our grasp. The Christian life challenges us to be merciful when we would rather get even. It challenges us to be pure in heart when we would rather curse quietly under our breath. It challenges us to be peacemakers when we think we have a good case to pick a fight. What we get as Christians is much better than "bliss." We get fulfillment, abundant life in God’s Spirit; joy amid sorrow; joy rooted in the expectation of residence in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is saying if you live by these standards, God will bless you. The Beatitudes carve a sculpture, a silhouette, an image of Christ-like character. They describe qualities of the heart, the attitudes, and behaviors a Christian is to become.
A heavyset woman went to an exercise and diet clinic. The first thing the physical trainer did placed a silhouette on a mirror in the shape she wished to become. As she stood in front of the mirror, she bulged out over the silhouette. The instructor told her, “Our goal is for you to fit this shape.” For many weeks, the woman dieted and exercised. Each week she would stand in front of the mirror, but her volume, while decreasing, still overflowed. And so, she exercised harder and dieted more rigidly. Finally, one day, as she stood in front of the mirror, she was ecstatic as she was conformed to the image of the silhouette.
The beatitudes paint a picture what our attitudes should be as followers of Jesus. If you learn and pursue applying these principles, you shall be blessed, happy, and fulfilled! And the Lord shall pour out his divine rewards.
This leads us to the first beatitude. If we are going to be conformed to the image of Christ, have an inner joy and happiness, then it begins with being poor in spirit.
Being poor in spirit is being spiritually bankrupt, broke. It is a deep sense of spiritual helplessness and humility. It is having a deep contrition and turning from your sin as you come to the King as a helpless and hopeless sinner. It is recognizing your self will, your self-righteousness, your self-sufficiency, your sinfulness before a Holy God.
Poor in spirit does not mean that you think you are worthless. Please realize that all people are made in the image of God. As a result, everyone has unimaginable worth. Rather, it refers to an awareness and admission of one’s utter sinfulness before a Holy God.
Scripture notes several examples of the importance of this beatitude. For instance, Isaiah was humble in spirit as he experienced coming into the presence of the LORD. He heard the angels saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah cried out,
Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:1-5)
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus talked about the tax collector and the Pharisee praying in the temple. To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
In Acts 2, after Peter preached on the death and resurrection of Jesus, Scripture says, When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:37-39). (Also note Romans 3:9-20).
One who is poor in spirit has been cut to the heart, convicted of one’s sin before a Holy God. It is crying out for mercy. It is turning from your sinfulness to making the wholehearted decision to repent and believe in Jesus. Then, one is born again of God’s Holy Spirit.
I like what Henry and Richard Blackaby writes, An exalted view of God brings a clear view of sin and a realistic view of self. A diminished view of God brings a reduced concern for sin and an inflated view of self (Experiencing God Devotional, January 2).
Our journey as a believer in Jesus Christ begins with a desperate heart. We are to come to the King of kings and the Lord of lords as a helpless and hopeless sinner. If any are going to enter the kingdom of heaven, they must become poor in spirit. Jesus begins with this beatitude because it is the foundation for happiness, true joy, and peace!
Now, please realize this humble attitude must continue throughout a believer’s life. We do not simply humble ourselves to get in and then become self-sufficient. We are to live our lives in humility and total dependence on Him. It is not some New Year’s resolution that you just give up on, it is a wholehearted willingness to pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus.
Sin runs deep, and this is one reason Scripture instructs us to examine ourselves before taking the Lord’s Supper. We need to examine our relationship with the Lord. Examine our relationships with others. We need to run an anti-virus check to see if any sin or self has creeped into our lives. Pride, self-sufficiency, bitterness, immorality, an improper view of God’s grace, and the like can easily creep into a person’s life.
So how do you know if you are poor in spirit? Let me share with you several aspects of having a poor in spirit perspective.
If you are poor in spirit/having a humble spirit, you become less, and the Lord becomes greater (John 3:30). One loses a sense of self and desires to worship the LORD to an even greater extent! It is recognizing that everything good in your nature comes from God. I am unworthy; He is worthy of all praise! Recognizing your dependence on God leads to a sense of gratitude manifesting in praise and worship!
One who is poor in spirit desires to know the Lord. Paul writes in Philippians 3:8-11, What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
There is a desire to learn about Him and become like Him. This is primary by letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16). To know the Lord prompts us to crave the pure spiritual milk, God’s word, like newborn babies (I Peter 2:2).
If you are poor in spirit, you will take Christ on his terms, not yours. You will desire to do His will, not self-will. It is like Jesus in the garden saying, not my will be done, but your will be done.
If you are poor in spirit, you highly value His grace and love!!! Ephesians 2:3-5 states, All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
If you are poor in spirit, you will be grateful and less likely to complain.
Complainers believe they deserve better, they deserve better food, better housing, better resources, better church services. Their complaints are rooted in pride and an incorrect view of what they truly deserve. They thank God for the continual grace and mercy they receive, as they understand that they deserve nothing. You learn how to give thanks in all situations for this is God’s will for their lives (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
If you are poor in spirit, you will pray, plead, ask for the Lord’s help. Just as physical beggars continually beg for money and food, spiritual beggars continually plead with the Lord for spiritual resources such as grace, strength, peace, opportunities to serve, and for the filling of the Holy Spirit. You ask and plead—not according to self-will, but His will. Later in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
If you are poor in spirit, you will consider others better than yourself and be concerned about others. Philippians 2:3, 4 states, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
The blessing Jesus announces for the poor in spirit is the Kingdom of heaven. Please note the reward for the first and last beatitude are the same, the kingdom of heaven. Also, note Jesus speaks as being in the present tense while the rest of the beatitudes promise a future reward. So, what is the kingdom of heaven? It is not only that wonderful place we hope to go to when this life is over. The kingdom of heaven is simply the rule of God. Wherever God rules, the kingdom is. And where the kingdom is, there is peace and joy and goodness and love and life in all its fullness.
I came to the point of being spiritually busted, poor in spirit, as a teenager. I went to a church camp as an agnostic, I left believing in the God and the Lord Jesus Christ. God began to work. God’s Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin. One sin was being a little too touchy-feely with Kathy. I would cry out to God for help. I remember kneeling at my bed, feeling the conviction of sin, and pouring my heart out to the Lord. Lord, forgive me. Help me. Make me the man of God that you want me to be.
Then about a year later at another church camp, I was reading I Thessalonians 4:3-8, It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
I was convicted big time…It was at that church camp; Kathy came to know the Lord. God moved powerfully among the whole group. Shortly after that camp, Kathy and I decided to break up.
Over the years, I have learned to an even greater extent the depth of my sinfulness. I am thankful the Lord has poured his grace into my life. His grace and love continue to motivate me to grow and mature in Him.
One passage that has spoken to me for decades has been II Peter 1:3-9, His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
The Lord has blessed me beyond what I could have ever imagined! He has given me extraordinary joy!
May you never forget God’s grace and love in cleansing you from your sins. This communion table is a reminder of His love…. Let’s pray.
