The Beatitudes - Lesson 2: The Poor in Spirit

The Beatitudes

Lesson 2: The Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Below are several illustrations to help convey the meaning (or meanings) of “poor in spirit.” These illustrations may or may not be useful in teaching children. I place them here first for the sake of those who are teaching. The lesson is below.

Poor in spirit as concerning money, wealth and possessions

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), the rich man was rich, but was not poor in spirit. He loved his riches, and served them.

In the story of Naaman who came to Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-27), Gehazi was likely poor (or at least not rich). Though Gehazi was poor, he was not poor in spirit, for he loved money and possessions. He lied to Naaman to get both money and possessions, and then to Elisha about what he had done.

In the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-27), this young man was rich. Yet he was not poor in spirit. When the choice of serving God or serving money was put before him, he was found to love his money and possessions more than God. He was not poor in spirit. He went away “sad” (vv23-24).

The disciples who followed Jesus (Luke 18:28-30), specifically the twelve, were poor in spirit. Some may have been poor, some more well off, but all were willing to leave all behind to follow Jesus. They did not love or serve money and possessions, but were truly poor in spirit.

However, Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve. He had left all behind to follow Jesus. He became poor. And yet we find that he was not poor in spirit. Even when he was poor he loved money and would steal from the money box (John 12:1-8).

The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy (1 Timothy 6) to charge those who are rich to be poor in spirit.

Jesus Christ, the son of God, is poor in spirit. Though he was equal with God (Philippians 2:5-11), he was willing to give up all to serve others. He was poor in spirit.

Barnabas, being poor in spirit, having a field, sold it and laid the money at the feet of the apostles (Acts 4:33-5:10). Ananias and Sapphira, wanting to appear poor in spirit, sold land they owned, and in deceit laid only part of the money at the apostles' feet. The money they secretly kept back for themselves brought them neither security nor happiness, for they both swiftly met the day of their death. Their treasure on earth was of no value or help to them.

Poor in spirit as humility

The apostle Peter was one of the chosen twelve, and some say he was chief of the twelve (Matthew 10:2; 16:18). Though he was given much power and authority, he was poor in spirit. He did not exalt himself, but humbled himself to serve others (1 Peter 5:1).

Most Christians are not of the chosen twelve. They were not given the same power and authority as the twelve. Among these people, some wanted power and authority, they wanted to be first among men. They were not poor in spirit. The apostle Paul wrote of false apostles and prophets who exalted themselves (Galatians 6:12-15).

In the story of the pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), we see opposites. The Pharisee was given much, in a spiritual sense, by God, yet he was not poor in spirit, but exalted himself. The tax collector, though not spiritually rich, was poor in spirit, for he humbled himself before God.

Poor in spirit – Jesus Christ our Lord

In our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we see these two ideas of “poor in spirit” meeting perfectly.

Jesus Christ was born in humble circumstances and laid in a feeding trough (manger) at birth. In his ministry, he chose to live a life of poverty, having nowhere to lay his head (Matthew 18:19-20). In death, he was buried in a tomb belonging to someone else. In all this, we see no trace of unhappiness caused by the state of his finances. While Jesus was poor in fact, he was also, above all others, poor in spirit. He shows us the happiness and blessedness of living a life being poor in spirit.

As to humility, Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. He humbled himself, not just from God to man, but from God to a servant of men. As such he tells us that he did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. He served the crowds, teaching, healing and feeding them. He washed the feet of his disciples. Rather than being too important or great in his own mind, he gladly received even the children that were brought to him, speaking of their importance, while not even mentioning his own. On the cross, rather than boasting of his own power and might, or threatening, he humbly committed himself to him who judges righteously (Luke 23:46; 1 Peter 2:23). He died on the cross for the sins of the world. In all this, Jesus showed us the happiness and blessedness of being poor in spirit.

The main points for this lesson:

Remember, beatitude means happy or blessed. Jesus is telling us the way to true happiness and blessedness. The beatitudes teach us who will be happy and why that person will be happy.

To be poor in spirit is to recognize our own true condition and need. The tax collector (Luke 18:13) recognized his true condition (a sinner in danger of judgment) and so humbly asked for mercy. The apostles recognized that their real need for spiritual health was far greater than any need for material wealth, and so were willing to leave all behind to follow Jesus. Whether we are rich or poor, we can be poor in spirit by seeing the depth of our need before God.

Being poor in spirit has two sides, like a coin. Both sides are important, and go hand in hand.

On one side is humility. We must walk humbly before God and men. God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

On the other side is a proper attitude toward money and possessions. It is an attitude that does not hope or trust in riches, but trusts in God above all else. It is an attitude that does not lay up treasure on earth, but lays up much treasure in heaven. Being poor does not make someone poor in spirit. Being rich does not make someone poor in spirit, nor are you poor in spirit simply because you have less wealth than another person. We must choose to be poor in spirit.

If we walk in this way, we will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Suggestions:

Open each lesson with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.

Read Matthew 5:3 with the children.

Give the children a simple explanation of what it means to be poor in spirit. It is to be humble, that is, to not think you are better than others. It is also to not trust in or love money, but to trust in God and to love treasure in heaven.

Use the three stories in Luke 18:9-30 (1. The Pharisee and the tax collector; 2. Little children brought to Jesus; 3. The rich young ruler). Before you read each story, ask the children to listen and think about who in the story was poor in spirit and who in the story was not poor in spirit. When you finish reading each story, have the children tell you who was poor in spirit and who was not, and why they think that.

Remind the children that this is the way to true happiness and blessedness. You can ask them who in the stories do they think was happy and why, and who was not happy and why.

Close the lesson with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.

Stories:

Luke 18:9-14 [9] He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. [10] “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ [13] But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

In this parable, we see the pride of the Pharisee contrasted with the humility of the tax collector. The tax collector is poor in spirit in the sense of humility. It is this one whom God heard and justified. Blessed are the poor in spirit. In another place, the Holy Spirit spoke it this way, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Luke 18:15-17 [15] They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. [16] Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [17] Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

In this story, the disciples are contrasted with Jesus. It appears the disciples considered Jesus (and perhaps themselves) too great or important to be bothered with little children. However, Jesus did not have such a view. He is poor in spirit in the sense of humility. Not only that, but in being poor in spirit, he places great value on the lowest and weakest person (on children in this story), stating their place in the kingdom of God, and the necessity of imitating their character if others hope to enter the same kingdom of God.

Luke 18:18-30 [18] A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one—God. [20] You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” [21] He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.” [22] When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.” [23] But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich. [24] Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” [26] Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” [27] But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

[28] Peter said, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you.” [29] He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God’s sake, [30] who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

Here again is contrasted the rich ruler with the disciples. The ruler valued treasure on earth above treasure in heaven, and so was unwilling to part with his earthly treasures when called to do so. He became very sad, for he was not poor in spirit, and so did not know and could not know the happiness or blessedness of those who are. On the other hand, the disciples valued treasure in heaven above the things that are seen. When called to part with their earthly possessions, they willing left all to follow Jesus. They came to know the real and lasting happiness of the poor in spirit.

More Stories and Examples:

Luke 12:13-21 [13] One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” [14] But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” [15] He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” [16] He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. [17] He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ [18] He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ [20] “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ [21] So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Jesus speaks a parable to two men who were too concerned with earthly wealth or treasure. The rich man in the parable believed that the wealth and possessions of this life hold the greatest blessing. His plans and actions demonstrate this. Instead of finding true happiness and blessing in being poor in spirit, this man lost all, and was judged by almighty God as a foolish one. Based on our plans and goals, how will God judge us?

Luke 14:15-24 [15] When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in the Kingdom of God!” [16] But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. [17] He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ [18] They all as one began to make excuses. “The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’ [19] “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’ [20] “Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’ [21] “That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’ [22] “The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’ [23] “The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. [24] For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’”

Consider that for at least the first two guests, it was their commitment to their possessions in this world that kept them from entering the supper.

Other Verses:

MONEY, WEALTH, POSSESSIONS

Luke 6:20-21,24-25 [20] He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. [21] Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. [24] “But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. [25] Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

This may or may not be the same message Jesus spoke that Matthew recorded. Whether it is or not, Luke records Jesus contrasting the poor with the rich, the hungry with the filled. While the words can surely have more or deeper meaning, they seem to clearly point first to someone's money and possessions in this life, or lack thereof.

Proverbs 14:11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

The wicked are pictured with a house, the upright with a tent. In one sense, this proverb contrasts those who are not poor in spirit (who lay up treasure on earth) with those who are poor in spirit (who lay up treasure in heaven).

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 [10] He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. [11] When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

1 Timothy 6:6-19 [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. [8] But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. [9] But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[11] But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. [13] I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, [14] that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; [15] which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; [16] who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

[17] Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; [18] that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; [19] laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

Paul writes of the transient (or passing) value of earthly possessions and wealth, and then warns of the dangers of a heart that pursues wealth (vv.9-10). In verses 17-19, Paul tells Timothy what to speak to those Christians who possess wealth. Timothy is to charge the rich to be poor in spirit. They are to turn from haughtiness, and from trusting in their riches. Instead they are to trust in God, and lay up treasure in heaven by doing good and being ready to share what they have with others. In this way (the way of being poor in spirit), they may lay hold of eternal life.

HUMILITY

Matthew 20:20-28 [20] Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him. [21] He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.” [22] But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.” [23] He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” [24] When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers. [25] But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. [26] It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. [27] Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, [28] even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The mother of James and John, as well as James and John themselves, sought high position, to be exalted over others. Jesus taught them that in his kingdom people are ranked differently. On earth, the rich and the powerful have the highest rank. In the kingdom of God, the lowest person, the one who serves others, is the one becomes great. The poor in spirit find true happiness and blessedness.

Philippians 2:1-11 [1] If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, [2] make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; [3] doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; [4] each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 5:5-7 [5] Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; [7] casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

JESUS

Matthew 8:19-20 [19] A scribe came, and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” [20] Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Jesus laid up no treasure on earth. He was poor in spirit.

Matthew 19:13-15 [13] Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. [14] But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.” [15] He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.

Matthew 20:27-28 – see above.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

Philippians 2:5-11 – see above.

COMMENTARY

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible – Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit - The word “blessed” means “happy,” referring to that which produces felicity, from whatever quarter it may come.

Poor in spirit - Luke says simply, Blessed are the poor. It has been disputed whether Christ meant the poor in reference to the things of this life, or to the humble. The gospel is said to be preached to the poor, Luk 4:18; Mat 11:5. It was predicted that the Messiah would preach to the poor, Isa 61:1. It is said that they have special facilities for being saved, Mat 19:23; Luk 18:24. The state of such persons is therefore comparatively blessed, or happy. Riches produce care, anxiety, and dangers, and not the least is the danger of losing heaven by them. To be poor in spirit is to have a humble opinion of ourselves; to be sensible that we are sinners, and have no righteousness of our own; to be willing to be saved only by the rich grace and mercy of God; to be willing to be where God places us, to bear what he lays on us, to go where he bids us, and to die when he commands; to be willing to be in his hands, and to feel that we deserve no favor from him. It is opposed to pride, and vanity, and ambition. Such are happy:

1. Because there is more real enjoyment in thinking of ourselves as we are, than in being filled with pride and vanity.

2. Because such Jesus chooses to bless, and on them he confers his favors here.

3. Because theirs will be the kingdom of heaven hereafter.

It is remarkable that Jesus began his ministry in this manner, so unlike all others. Other teachers had taught that happiness was to be found in honor, or riches, or splendor, or sensual pleasure. Jesus overlooked all those things, and fixed his eye on the poor and the humble, and said that happiness was to be found in the lowly vale of poverty more than in the pomp and splendors of life.

Theirs is the kingdom of heaven - That is, either they have special facilities for entering the kingdom of heaven, and of becoming Christians here, or they shall enter heaven hereafter. Both these ideas are probably included. A state of poverty a state where we are despised or unhonored by people is a state where people are most ready to seek the comforts of religion here, and a home in the heavens hereafter. See the notes at Mat 2:2.

“The person who loves pleasure is saddened by criticism and hardship, while the person who loves God is saddened by praise and abundance” (Counsels on the Spiritual Life, Volume 1. Mark the Monk. (P. 134. #180).