The Beatitudes, as they are called, describe or characterize one who desires to be in the kingdom, or who is in the kingdom. They are descriptive of conditions of the heart or disposition. Our Lord Jesus Christ modeled these perfectly.
It is understandable why Jesus began the Beatitudes with the poor in spirit: One cannot enter into the kingdom without this trait. If one is in the kingdom, he will not remain faithful in it, if he does not maintain this characteristic.
So, what does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Luke’s record of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain says, “Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20.) Since there is no virtue in poverty, nor vice in riches per se, the meaning here cannot be a reference to the poor of this world. The word poor in both the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain translates a Greek which describes a beggar (as cringing), i.e., pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy ....” It is descriptive of someone in abject poverty; he has nothing; he is dependent on others for daily necessities of life. It is not a reference to someone who supples his needs by a job. One who is poor is totally dependent upon others for daily needs. It is someone like Lazarus who was full of sores, and had to be carried to the gate of the rich man. All he wanted was a few crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. The poor in spirit is like another beggar who had to depend on others for his daily needs. He was laid at the gate Beautiful, seeking alms (Acts 3).
To be “poor in spirit” means someone who recognizes his utter dependence on God. He knows he is in need of God both for physical necessities and spiritual blessings. He is the exact opposite of the rich fool who felt no dependence on God (Luke 12:15-21.) He is the person who in recognition of his need for God cries out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of death?” (Rom. 7:24.) He is the man who sings from his heart: “I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord: No tender voice like Thine can peace afford…I need Thee, OI need Thee; Every hour I need Thee! O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee.”
A recognition of one’s spiritual needs will cause one to ask, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17.) It will lead one to cry out as the people did on that first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” It is a disposition which leads one to see his utter spiritual bankruptcy. It will cause him to ask, as did Saul of Tarsus, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Being poor in spirit will cause one to return to God the Father and confess as did the prodigal son, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
One who is poor in spirit is not looking at his neighbor’s shortcomings, but will examine his own failures. To be poor in spirit is exemplified by the centurion whose servant was sick; so, he sent friends to Jesus with this message: “Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.” (Luke 7:6-7.)
If a person is not cognizant, or aware, of his need for salvation, he will not take the steps outlined in the New Testament to enter the kingdom of heaven wherein salvation is found. The kingdom of heaven is promised to the poor in spirit, or the humble. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3.) When the disciples had asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, he set a little child in the midst of them and said, “Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3-4.)
Haughtiness and arrogance are poles apart from humility and one’s being poor in spirit. The haughty person is caught up in himself and his alleged greatness and his supposed superiority over others. A proud look emanates from a haughty heart. James exhorted, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10.)
The kingdom is made up of those who are poor in spirit. Jesus said, “…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The fact that James admonished his readers to humble themselves indicates that one can be in the kingdom of heaven, or the church, yet become proud or haughty. Paul dealt with this problem in his letter to Roman saints. He wrote, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3.) A novice, or new convert, is not to be put into the eldership “lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” (1 Tim. 3:5.)
How can one root out haughtiness, and embrace a spirit of humility? Since Jesus is the perfect model, why not learn from him as to how to be poor in spirit. He demonstrated his having been poor in spirit by his giving up heaven to walk among sinful men and women. Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8.) However, Jesus differed from us, because he had no sin. Therefore, we should be like him from the standpoint of his utter dependence on his heavenly Father. As we follow him during his earthly sojourn, we see his praying frequently. This indicated his complete reliance upon his Father in heaven.
Let us recognize our utter dependence upon God in obedience to the gospel, in acceptable worship and in our Christian walk.