Blessed Are the Zeroes
Too Little, Too Late? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewMaybe the Beatitudes mean something different than we think.
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Traditionally, the Beatitudes have been seen as attitudes people in the kingdom must have and are states of blessedness in and of themselves. That is being poor in spirit, mourning, being persecuted are things we should strive for. We place interpretations on these verses to make this seem reasonable.
Willard takes a different tack. We’re going to lay his ideas alongside traditional interpretations and see if these verses might mean something different than we think.
Let’s begin with the poor (in spirit) which occurs in both Matthew’s and Luke’s lists in slightly altered language.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said,
“Blessed are the poor,
because yours is the kingdom of God.
In the SOM, Jesus answers 2 questions:
In the SOM, Jesus answers 2 questions:
Which is the good life; who has it? [MT 5. 3-20]
Which is the good life; who has it? [MT 5. 3-20]
Who is the truly good person? [MT 5.20-7.27]
Who is the truly good person? [MT 5.20-7.27]
In the Beatitudes, Jesus is developing and clarifying his primary message.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus is developing and clarifying his primary message.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The kingdom is available now.
The kingdom is available now.
And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. And a report about him went out throughout Syria, and they brought to him all those who were sick with various diseases and afflicted by torments, demon-possessed and epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them. And large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the other side of the Jordan.
His deeds backed up his words.
His deeds backed up his words.
Blessed are the poor (in spirit).
Blessed are the poor (in spirit).
Makarioi (blessed) is the Greek word used to translate a Hebrew word meaning sublime joy, a joy experienced by those who see something they have longed for come to fruition.
Makarioi (blessed) is the Greek word used to translate a Hebrew word meaning sublime joy, a joy experienced by those who see something they have longed for come to fruition.
Most interpretations make the conditions Jesus described into spiritual virtues.
Most interpretations make the conditions Jesus described into spiritual virtues.
Poor in spirit comes to mean humble-minded and becomes the first qualification whereby we can enter the kingdom.
Poor in spirit comes to mean humble-minded and becomes the first qualification whereby we can enter the kingdom.
Is this a problem for the idea of salvation by grace?
Is this a problem for the idea of salvation by grace?
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
Willard translates poor in spirit as spiritual zeroes.
Willard translates poor in spirit as spiritual zeroes.
These are people without religious qualifications, people of the land.
These are people without religious qualifications, people of the land.
These are not the people you would select to be a deacon or teach Sunday School.
These are not the people you would select to be a deacon or teach Sunday School.
These are not blessed because they are poor in spirit but in spite of it.
These are not blessed because they are poor in spirit but in spite of it.
Theirs is the kingdom just because God desires to give it to them and they need it.
Theirs is the kingdom just because God desires to give it to them and they need it.
Neither this nor any other state of persons Jesus mentioned in these verses is a prerequisite for entry; it’s a list of some of the circumstances in which people find themselves who have entered the kingdom through Jesus.
Neither this nor any other state of persons Jesus mentioned in these verses is a prerequisite for entry; it’s a list of some of the circumstances in which people find themselves who have entered the kingdom through Jesus.