Jesus
ministry has been introduced by telling us:
Matthew
now gives us the details of one of Jesus’ teachings
Interpreters’
views of this material are many but fall into two groups:
On
one hand #1 above is true in the sense that Jesus’ words reveal our complete
inadequacy to qualify for membership in the
On
the other hand, #2 above sets the standard for our character, behavior and
attitude as members of the
Also,
even when we have received God’s grace and are heirs of his salvation, we can
read this teaching are realize we still have room to grow and mature.
These
words are a demand on men from the character of God, but they also contain the
offer of grace from God who is willing to begin the process of transformation
in the lives of those who desire the change.
One
of the challenges concerns how interpret Jesus’ bold (and, at times,
conflicting) statements. Obviously, Jesus means what he says, but yet at the
same time there are circumstances he does not address that would force us to
reconsider the application of his words. For example:
Jesus
was a traveling preacher who would have spoke these words and used these
illustrations many times. Some would say Matthew 5:1-7:29 is a collection of
Jesus sayings from various times. No doubt, Jesus probably used bits and pieces
of this teaching other times, but the text clearly says this was one single
message. Matthew identifies the time, the location, the crowd and the response
of this sermon. It is not the same situation as the similar message in Luke
6:17-7:35 which sounds like the Sermon on the Mount, but actually is introduced
by Luke in Luke 6:17 by saying:
“He went DOWN with them and stood on a
Matthew 5:1-2 begins the message
on the mount and Matthew 7:28-29 concludes the message
5:1
This account is a sample of Jesus’
teaching. Jesus would have many days with situations like this where he taught
crowds like this.
This is addressed to disciples or
followers of Jesus. This is teaching, not preaching. There is no call to
repent, but instructions and expectations.
5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Read the Matthew’s 8 Beatitudes
(some say there are 9, or even 10).
Compare these 8 with Luke’s four
Beatitudes in Luke 6:20-27 and notice the four blessings are followed by four
curses. Clearly not the same message.
“Blessed” is “makarios”
(makarioV) means “blessed, fortunate,
happy” most often in reference to those who are privileged recipients of divine
favor”. Jesus is saying: “O, the happiness of . . “
“The poor in spirit” -
“poor” is “ptochos” (ptwcoV) refers to
one who lives not by his own estate or work, but on charity of others. This
person is a non-productive citizen who must be taken care of by others or the
state. There is another word used for poor “penes” (penhV) which refers to someone who does not
have the nice things and the extras in life. The word
used by Jesus means these people have nothing at all.
The “poor in spirit” refers to
people who realize they have nothing of spiritual value nor can they work to
produce something of value in the
This cannot refer to all people
being blessed, even though all people are “poor in spirit.” This must refer to
those who realize or recognize their spiritual poverty. This word is used again
by Jesus in Rev. 3: 17 when he tells the Laodiceans that they are “poor” after
they have called themselves “rich” when they say literally: “Rich I am and I
have become rich and no need I have.”
Blessed are those who completely
rely on God for their spiritual resources just like a person on welfare relies
on the state or a homeless person relies on the mission shelter.
You can see why the Pharisees and
Jesus had a conflict.
Isaiah 66:2
Some would say this is talking
about people who do not have the good things or rich things valued by the
world. They would say that the poor people are the ones who will be blessed by
the
James 2:5, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the
eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised
those who love him?”
But, God has also chosen the
rich. The poor do not get heaven because they are poor. Nor, are the rich
excluded because they are rich.
Matthew 19:23, 24, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus says “it is hard” not
impossible.
Poverty is not a blessing here in
time nor will poverty result in a blessed state in eternity. Poverty and
powerlessness in the natural world is not a blessing, never was a blessing and
does not produce blessings. Poverty and helplessness is a curse that people
need to be delivered from.
Psalm 34:6 and other OT
references to poor often speak of believers who have lost everything but
continue to trust God. The reason for their blessedness and eventual
deliverance was not the fact that they need deliverance but that they cried out
to God in faith.
“theirs
is the kingdom of heaven” is the consequence of their