"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew.5:3)
The kingdom of heaven belongs to the "poor in spirit" Jesus says. But what does it mean to be "poor in spirit." Is Jesus talking about physical poverty? No. Being “poor in spirit,” “signifies those who are brought to the sense of their sins, and seeing no goodness in themselves, despair in themselves and sue wholly to the mercy of God in Christ.” This is a "kind of self-annihilation...The poor in spirit are they who see nothing in themselves, but fly to mercy for sanctuary” (Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes, 42). So "poor in spirit" refers then to “the humble, and lowly-minded, and self-abased; He (Jesus) means those who are deeply convinced of their own sinfulness in God’s sight...They regard themselves as ‘wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked’ (Rev.3:17) (J.C. Ryal, Matthew: The Crossway Classic Commentaries).
Those who are “poor in spirit” are those who in humility “see nothing in themselves.” They are “spiritually destitute----spiritually bankrupt.” And they come empty handed before a holy God. How do you see yourself?
The kingdom of heaven belongs to the "poor in spirit" Jesus says. But what does it mean to be "poor in spirit." Is Jesus talking about physical poverty? No. Being “poor in spirit,” “signifies those who are brought to the sense of their sins, and seeing no goodness in themselves, despair in themselves and sue wholly to the mercy of God in Christ.” This is a "kind of self-annihilation...The poor in spirit are they who see nothing in themselves, but fly to mercy for sanctuary” (Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes, 42). So "poor in spirit" refers then to “the humble, and lowly-minded, and self-abased; He (Jesus) means those who are deeply convinced of their own sinfulness in God’s sight...They regard themselves as ‘wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked’ (Rev.3:17) (J.C. Ryal, Matthew: The Crossway Classic Commentaries).
Those who are “poor in spirit” are those who in humility “see nothing in themselves.” They are “spiritually destitute----spiritually bankrupt.” And they come empty handed before a holy God. How do you see yourself?
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