Bible Study from Matthew 5:1-3
Yes, the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ is well recognized.
But, there are also many people who don’t completely understand it.
This is especially true when it comes to the 8 Beatitudes listed in the famous sermon.
Today, let’s look at verses 1-3 from Matthew 5 where Jesus states; “blessed are the poor in spirit“, one of the best known of the eight beatitudes.
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit – They Receive the Kingdom of Heaven
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:1-3 NASB
From the Sermon on the Mount
You are about to embark on an adventure through the Bible with verses called Beatitudes given by Jesus in His “Sermon on the Mount”.
And, I believe you’ll find that these teachings of Jesus present a wonderful guideline for living.
What Does “Poor in Spirit” Mean?
I researched online to find more on the Poor in spirit meaning. One definition stood out from the Active Christianity site. It reads that one who is poor in spirit is;
“Always lowly in his own eyes. He does not exalt himself. And, he is not proud. Even though he may be considered insignificant by others, he sees it all as God’s will.
He rejoices that he is allowed to share in the sufferings of Christ.
It becomes natural for him to go the way of the Lamb. Humiliation becomes his nourishment, exaltation his reward.”
I’m not sure about you but this puts me in a difficult place! Pride causes us to embrace those other initial feelings mentioned above.
But, Jesus teaches in verse three that, if we give all we have for Him with humility, we will be blessed in heaven.
Contradictory?
At first glance these “Beatitudes” seem to be full of contradictions.
And certainly Christ did not turn the world upside down by “going along” with the crowd.
In fact, His statements were very radical for the times.
Christ Calls Us to be Different
Many times God calls us to say and do things differently from the rest of the world.
Jesus said in Mark 8:34; “Take up your cross” which means we will suffer for our faith in Him.
But we must remember, our reward is not always here on earth – it’s in heaven.
I’m constantly reminded of a quote by President Richard Nixon as he left the White House. He simply said:
“Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them.”
This means we must try to remain in a loving state, even when it seems that no one loves us in return.
What Christ Asked Us to Do
As human beings, what Jesus asked us to do goes against our very fiber. Our first reaction to hate is hurt and anger (I’m guilty).
But, if we love those who hate us then we are following Christ’s’ way of thinking.
He was hated by many but He never stopped loving them, even up till the time of His death.
God never stops loving us either.
Proof lies in the fact He was willing to die because of His love for us.
Now, what are we willing to do?
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to discover more about how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to go here and read the first steps.