The first of Jesus’ Beatitudes speaks of having a humble spirit and honest heart before God and the blessings that would come to those who have this attitude.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” is the first message every Christian needs to understand.

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most detailed and significant, of Jesus Christ’s teachings found in the Bible.

This fundamental teaching is known as the Beatitudes, which, when followed, provide joy and peace of mind.

What does it mean “poor in spirit”?

The Greek word for “poor” is ptōchos , which describes someone who is physically “destitute of wealth, influence, position, honors,” reduced to begging, and who has no power to help himself or improve his position (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

In the well-known parable, this is said of the beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:20-22), and also about the woman who gave two mites to the temple treasure (Mark 12:41-44).

Compared to God we are nothing. It’s impossible not to be humbled after seeing how one is in comparison with God (Psalm 39:4-7)

Even Job proclaimed his insignificance, in the end, when he saw God’s Greatness via creation
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

There is such a beauty of being poor in spirit! That means we can be humble finding favor before a Righteous and Just God.

And, by the awareness of our poor knowledge compared to the knowledge of God we become teachable – taught by the Greatest Teacher ever, Jesus Christ (Psalm 25:9);

And last but not the least, we are repentant, that means my heart yields even stronger to know the heart of God.

It also means, that we acknowledge our dependence on God and recognize His Greatness (Psalm 69:29-36; Isaiah 66:1-2).

What does it mean to be dependent on God? Let me give you an example.

When I don’t know the solution, I usually don’t restrict myself to my previous experience and knowledge to apply to the current circumstance. I pray to God by laying down all the emotions and thoughts (even the ones that bother me) and I ask for His advice.

Every day. For each circumstance.

This does not make me a cripple; in fact, it is the polar opposite.

By acknowledgment of my insignificance in comparison to God, I am open to hear His counsel, to guide me in everything.

That simply put in prayer looks something like this:
“I admit that I don’t know the answer to my problem, and my understanding of my circumstance is limited;
Yet I know that You are All-Wise and All-Knowing God, who cares for me and wants the best for me.
So let, not I, but You, Jesus give me the answer that’s a light unto my feet to lead me on the right path.”

This motivates me to grow, mature and fulfill the plan of God for me and my life.

For Theirs Is The Kingdom Of Heaven

This is a great promise from God, and we all know He is not a man to promise and not fulfill!

This promise is a blessed assurance for the poor in spirit!

“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

That is something Jesus Christ has previously demonstrated while on earth.

He deeply humbled Himself, setting an outstanding example for others to follow (Philippians 2:5-8).

The Son of God was willing to take on a lowly human and die a humiliating death.

After His resurrection, God raised Him to an extraordinary position of glory at the right hand of God’s throne over all of creation because of His humility and tremendous obedience.

And that is the way to follow, as God makes Christian who are poor in spirit, hears in the Kingdom of Heaven. (James 2:5; Romans 8:17)

The Worldview: What Does It Mean To Be Poor In Spirit

Being poor in the spirit which means humility before God isn’t easy and it doesn’t come naturally.

This manner of life is regarded dumb and, in general, a weakness by the rest of the world.

Nowadays, celebrities and public figures like Oprah Winfrey endorse and promote the “I am god above all else, non-dependent on God, and and most certainly not needing Him as God and Savior.

” People are more likely to say “I, have decided that what I do and how I live, is not a sin!

I have made up my mind, that I am not a sinner! I can’t sin! It’s just the way I live and I accept that, as it is!”

How can in such a world anything of The Kingdom of God sound or even be considered as true and valuable as humbleness and dependence on God, where the hearts are haughty and arrogant toward Jesus, with no need for repentance of sin?

This, is the opposite of everything that “the poor in spirit” is all about.

Nevertheless, everything has to be fulfilled as it is written in the Bible, because the Word of God will always, I mean always, prevail!

That being said, some accept the grace of God and become blessed beyond measure, with an assured promise that will stand and wait for them when they get to heaven – The Kingdom of God as an inheritance. While others reject all that God has to offer, and they will receive according to their decision, for Pride leads only to destruction (Proverbs 16:18-19).

Who Are The Poor In Spirit, As A Summery Of All Above

The poor in spirit, are the ones who willingly lay down all cards before God, who is All Knowing.

Being exposed to the light is not something they are afraid of, for they know Jesus and His heart.

God Is for us not against us.
God’s Mercy and Grace surely follow the ones who are poor in spirit all the days of their lives.

Expressing our feelings and just telling God what’s going on in our life, as well as asking for advice or assistance when we face challenges, are all ways of deepening our relationship with Him.

• Obedience

The poor in spirit are the obedient ones who are willingly accepting God’s thoughts and guidance over theirs. The only way that God’s way of life becomes more than knowledge is, if it is followed (Deuteronomy 8:11-17).

The obedience is done with the help of the Holy Spirit.

• Repentance

With the Holy Spirit, we can show humbleness toward others by seeing God’s will for them, and by esteeming others better than himself (Philippians 2:3)

A repentant spirit is an evidence of a poor and a contrite spirit (Luke 18:9-14)

Seeing the sin in ones life and laying it before God, is humbling, and adds emphasis to the contrast between a sinful man and a Just God.

Remember: God gave His One and Only Begotten Son, so that who so ever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” – John 17:3

Therefore, our aim as being poor in spirit is to come closer to God, so that we might know Him intimately.

God, is full of mercy and grace for us. His heart is a fatherly heart, and He cares for us more than anybody else in this world.

Loves us more than we could ever love ourselves.

And since we are now in Christ Jesus, He forgives us all sins.

He sees us in His Son Jesus – pure, spotless, worthy of the Greatest sacrifice, forgiven in Jesus and resurrected with Him.

Being poor in spirit means talking to Him about everything, expressing every single thought that bothers us, or how we feel, or what’s going on with us emotionally or mentally, or the difficult situations we’re in, just to lay it all out before Him, so He could heal us, forgive us, and fill our hearts with Love to an overflowing measure.

For it is the Love of God that one might come true to repentance of one’s sins and a change of course for his path.

The more we come to God for everything considering us and our lives, the more we develop a habit of running toward Him – which is the true meaning of being dependent of Him.

Coming to the Light will bring one’s heart to repentance. It is only with God that we can do anything (John 15:5).

It is with the help of the Spirit of The Heavenly Father that we can make true repentance from the heart. (Matthew 3:8)

Read more: “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted”