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Question: Why are the 'poor in spirit' blessed?

Answer: This question comes from Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount," as it is called and can be found in Matthew chapter five. Jesus is laying down His principles for how He will rule the world when He is King. Right now, for us as Christians, Christ is our King, and He wants us to truly put into practice in our lives His principles for living. They are called "beatitudes," which means supreme blessedness or happiness. They are not so much promises of reward for right living, (however, they are that too), as much as they are a description of the believer. They do not show us how to be saved, but describe the characteristics of one who is born again.

In Christ's kingdom, this type of person, who is "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3) will be supremely blessed. I believe a person who is "poor in spirit" is one who is not just meek or humble, because this is another of the beatitudes that is covered in verse five, but it is a person who is "empty of self righteousness," and is not trusting in themselves for salvation. That is why they are called blessed or happy because they are looking forward to eternal life with the Lord in heaven. They are not trusting in their good deeds, but they are trusting Christ alone to save them.

An example of this from Scripture is the story Jesus told about two men who went to the temple to pray. "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." So a person who is "poor in spirit" says I cannot save myself, I am not worthy, but I repent of my sin, and ask God to forgive me for my sin, and save me.

A person who is "poor in spirit" understands they are not saved by their own good works, but that salvation is a free gift from God, because He is a God of love and mercy. That person "poor in spirit" realizes that they simply need to receive, by faith the gift of eternal life, which God is offering. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So Jesus is saying that in His kingdom the ones that are happy and blessed will be those who humbly live a life of faith and love with their maker and their fellow man. Being the Messiah, Jesus takes His words right out of the Old Testament Scripture, for example it says: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

In the world now, the person who is thought of as great is the person "rich in selfishness, and rich in self-righteousness." In the world now, the one who steps on others to make it to the "top" are considered right. If you can swindle many hard working people out of their pensions or retirement plans, you may not even be brought to court, or if you are you may be given a "plea bargain." In this society people think they have to "butter up" the boss and "earn brownie points" to move up the ladder of "success.'

In Christ's kingdom it is just the opposite from the world's system (which by the way is run by the "god" of this world, Satan). In Christ's kingdom you are given a free pardon for your sins through the blood He shed on the cross for you. Then you are expected to humbly do your duty, work hard, and do the right things, be honest at all times, and you will be blessed and rewarded. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) So we are not saved by good works, but we are to do good works after we are saved.

You and I need to be servants to others like Christ was. "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you let him be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28)

This type of person who is "poor in spirit" says like John the Baptist said when speaking of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) I heard of just such a person who is "poor in spirit" and is blessed now, and will be blessed in heaven as well; here is her story, and I believe she is an example of how we should live in Christ's Kingdom. This story is from the Associated Press and written by Elliot Spagat, December 26, 2005. "TIJUANA, Mexico - The cell at the end of the dark hallway barely fits a cot, a desk and folding chair. This is home for Sister Antonia Brenner, an American nun who was from Beverly Hills but abandoned a life of privilege to live in a notorious Mexican jail.

Her neighbors are no longer Hollywood stars, but murderers, drug runners and human smugglers. They know her as "angel de la carcel" - the prison angel. Brenner, 79, looks puzzled when asked what motivated her riches-to-rags choice nearly 30 years ago. 'I don't understand why people are so amazed,' she says. 'To give help is easy. To ask for it is hard.'

Just 5-foot-2 but crackling with energy, Brenner holds counseling sessions and does countless small tasks on behalf of the 7,100 inmates at La Mesa State Penitentiary, just across the U.S. border. In come bandages, soap and medicine; out go messages to loved ones beyond the high walls.

Brenner has long been a caretaker-she raised seven children. Then, at 50, she traded her dresses and a spacious home for a homemade habitat where conditions have led to inmate riots-including three that she helped quell. 'I'm effective in riots because I'm not afraid, I just pray and walk into it, 'she said, when a white veil walks in, someone they know loves them. silence comes.explains Brenner, and arms go down.'

.She walks through the prison with a beaming smile, waving at inmates and guards, kissing many on their cheeks. She addresses them as 'mi hijo' - 'my son.' 'Everyone loves her,' says Jose Luis Romero, who is serving 4 ½ years for stealing. 'You always feel better about yourself after seeing her.'

.She rises around 5 a.m. for prayer, and then distributes prayer cards to inmates who are inside a boxed chain-link fence waiting for a court appearance. She speaks four times at the prison's new church.

.Everything eventually ends-your money, your sickness, your family, your time, she tells about 20 inmates dressed in gray sweat suits, speaking in flawless though a little accented, Spanish. 'The only thing that won't end is Christ's love for you,' she says.

I hope this helps, to me this is an example of what Jesus means when He says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

Thanks for asking,

Gary T. Panell

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Keywords: poor in spirit, blessed, happy