Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Each point of the sermon on the mount challenges us with underlying questions that expose our hearts and invite us into deeper places with God. The first point of the sermon on the mount causes these questions to emerge:
What is it to be blessed?
Am I poor in spirit? If not, how do I become that way?
What is the kingdom of heaven?
For the answer to the first question, see one step: Matthew 5.1.
In looking at the second question, it’s helpful to know that to be poor in spirit, one does not have to be poor. Jesus’s intentional inclusion of “in spirit” specifies in what area of life bankruptcy should exist: in spirit. In this first point of the sermon on the mount, Jesus does not glorify poverty as a condition to be sought, as anyone who has experienced true poverty can attest to its horrific reality.
While being financially poor may help us see our spiritual poverty, Jesus suggests a recognition of extreme lack in the spirit rather than a economic condition. Research shows that those who lack in finances statistically have higher religious commitment than those who do not, but “poor in bank account” is not the focus of Jesus here.*
In looking at the third question, and without going into a cross-Gospel examination of the kingdom of heaven (that will have to wait for another time), we can gather that “kingdom of heaven” implies 3 things: 1) there is a king, 2) this king has a dominion - a place of influence, rules, and protection, 3) this king and his dominion is not of this world, but of another unbroken world (which Jesus later teaches us to invite into the space of the natural world).
Sometimes in understanding what someone is saying it helps to know what they are not saying.
In this first point of the sermon on the mount, Jesus is not saying", “you will be blessed if you have no money because if you have no money, you will soon be in charge in all of the places of this world that you have been oppressed.” Surely, this would have sounded like good news (gospel) to many! The Romans were oppressing the Jewish people and some must have felt that they were not able to financially thrive as they would like due to taxation and oppressive rules and regulations. To receive a promise such as this would be exciting, but Jesus was not saying this at all to the Jewish people of His time, and He isn’t saying that to us today.
Jesus is saying this: “it will be well with you if you are one who completely and totally relies on God for all things, recognizing that you have no spiritual resource apart from God. If you yearn for God above all else, then you get to take part in His kingdom. You get to live by and enjoy the protection and rules of the kingdom of heaven.”
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow Him to survey your soul. Do you believe that you have finances stored up in your spiritual bank account, acquired by your own means and efforts? Do you recognize your total dependance upon Him? Perhaps God wants to shift your focus from worldly influence and riches to influence in His Kingdom. Maybe God wants to address that place in your life that you have been making so much effort in but do not feel well in your soul about.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 96, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 5:3–9) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).