Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

The Poor In Spirit

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Text: Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

· WE are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we’re sinners.

1. Poor- Wanting, needy, empty. Vincent- “Utter Spiritual Destitution.” WEUST- “Destitute and helpless” SMITH BIBLE DICTIONARY- The poor received special favors from the land (Deut. 11:7) 1. The right of gleaning (Lev. 19:9-10) 2. Their portion from the produce of the land in the Sabbatical year (Ex 23:11) 3. Possession of land in the Jubilee year (Ex. 23:25-30) 4. Usury and pledges (35,37) 6. Portions of tithes (Deut 14:28) 7. Their entertainments at feasts (14:11-14) 8. Payment of wages (Lev.19:13). AMPLIFIED- Humble, rating themselves insignificant. THAYER- Reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms. Poor needy, lowly, afflicted, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end. Wesley- They who are unfeigned penitent, they who are truly convinced of sin; who see and feel the state they are in by nature. Being deeply sensible of their sinfulness, guiltiness and helplessness.

2. Blessed- Friedrich Hauck” Refers overwhelmingly to the distinctive religious joy which accrues to man from his share in the salvation of the Kingdom of God. Weymouth- “Blessedness is, of course, and infinitely higher and better thing than mere happiness.” Kenneth Weust- “Spiritually Prosperous” Amplified- “Happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous [That is, with life- joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward condition]

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Matt. 18:1-3 Except y be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

3. Moses lifted up the serpent- Illustrate family mom bit by a serpent comes out of tent finally lifts eyes to serpent.

4. John the Baptist- behold the Lamb of God

5. If I Be Lifted up - Jesus lifted on the cross.

6. Stop look at the crowd, who are you? Peter recoiling at the Crucifixion, Denying Jesus/ John Following from a distance./ Pharesies -crucify him/ Disciple-

7. Behold the Crucified Lamb

8. Behold the Risen Lord

9. Behold the King of Kings