God’s word is filled with so many wonderful passages to inform us of how we are to live and conduct our lives. Some of these verses describe basics things. They are basic and second nature because they have been written in the hearts of humanity for so long. The OT laws and structure help create a baseline of living and we can also find in scripture the importance of cleanliness way before bacteria or germs were ever discovered. In Matthew 5 we see a whole different view of instructed living. It is best known as the Sermon on the Mount, but the location does not compare to the application. In these next series of posts I want to look at this sermon verse by verse and see what God’s message has in store for us.
The key to getting this sermon is taking the time to consider what Jesus is talking about. The Bible says in the previous chapter (4:23) “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Jesus was and is the promise of the Kingdom, and he was and is the great Kingdom preacher. Christ even tells us that when we pray to do so by saying “thy Kingdom come” in regards to the Father. In other words our desire and prayers should be focused on the Kingdom. So this chapter is in line to what he was preaching in (Matt 4:23) and that is the good news of the coming Kingdom. Now what we see here in chapter five is what I call the characteristics of the Kingdom heirs. No, I am not talking about the singing group at Dollywood. Although I am sure they are pretty good fellows.
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:1-3)
What does verse three mean? What does it mean to be poor in spirit and what does it mean for theirs to be the Kingdom of heaven?
The word poor in this verse can be translated as to say to be in poverty an beg for help. One of the unique characteristics of Jesus was how he did not fit into anybodies category. The Pharisees hated him because he rebuked the customs and religion and the heathen ignored him because he refused to compromise to their lifestyle. There has never been a greater Rebel than Jesus Christ! He did and does things on his Father terms only. In these verses of scripture there is a clear contrast with Pharisees and the Jewish religious elite.
What Jesus is saying in verse 3 in regards to a begging spirit is this. It is a blessing when people come to a state of mind that their heart and soul and spirit is wretched and needs to be saved. Jesus is not saying it’s a blessing to be poor or you need to go around shy and with your face covered. He is saying that blessed is a man who knows he needs God and begs to have God. Beggars are desperate and Jesus is saying the first characteristic of a person in his Kingdom is like a beggar on the street who desperately wants to be saved. Wow! Isn’t that a beautiful picture? Satan constantly attacks the child of God over our sins but Jesus is saying that when one turns to him and pleads he is blessed. Take that devil!
“For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is a part of the phrase that has the reward. Heaven is not about riches that God has waiting for us. Instead the Kingdom is the place that the beggar is no longer a beggar but instead he or she is filled, satisfied, and complete. The message is simple. Beg to change. Beg to be different. Beg to be complete in Christ and you will. Jesus is not toying with us like a tyrant over a servant, but instead he is saying when we reach down inside and see who we truly are that as long as we stay persistent in our search for him we will find him. Then one day we will be with him in his Kingdom!
God is good, all the time!
Jesus Saves
RR
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