“Blessed/Happy are the poor in spirit – the humble, who rate themselves insignificant, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” [Matt. 5:3] What did Jesus mean when He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” It means that we must be HUMBLE in our spirits. If we place the word “humble” instead of the word “poor,” we will grasp what Jesus meant.
Poverty of spirit is the only way to receive the grace of God. If we cannot recognise our own poverty, we cannot understand Christ’s riches. Do you and I realise our deep need for Jesus and the Holy Spirit to totally control our lives?
When Jesus read a passage from Isaiah 61:1-3, in the Temple, He read what he was preaching about in Matt. 5. Note Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the Gospel of Good Tidings to the MEEK, the POOR, and AFFLICTED. He has sent me to BIND UP AND HEAL THE BROKENHEEARTED (those who mourn), to proclaim liberty to the physical and spiritual captives and the opening of the prison, and of the eyes to those who are bound.”
Jesus is passionate about healing the broken hearted and those who are “poor/humble in spirit.” When Nathan the prophet helped David to recognise the terrible sins he had committed, David wept. He became poor in spirit and mourned for his sins. He later wrote the following, “The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart, and He saves such as are crushed with sorrow over sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.” (Psalm 34:18 AMP)
The poor in spirit come to God immediately when in need or during a crisis. They are humble in spirit and look forward to Eternity. They care for others above themselves. The wonderful miracle is that we never need to be poor in spirit, or humble, in our own strength. We have a Heavenly Father, a Blessed Redeemer who is our Good Shepherd, AND the Holy Spirit Who can assist us to become what God plans for us to be. We can and must depend totally upon the Holy Trinity to help us.
Precious Jesus, thank You that You showed us the way to humility and poverty of spirit, when You washed your disciples’ feet shortly before giving Your life for us on the agonising death on the Cross. What infinite, humble love You exhibited! Yet that sacrificial, meek love became triumphant when You arose from the grave. Please help us to be humble enough to admit our failures and shortcomings, our longings, and desires to You, so that You can also be victorious in our lives. We give you ALL the glory, honour and praise, Amen.
Myrtle Turunen