The Poor in Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Background: The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus most famous sermons. It was recorded for us in both Matthew’s and Luke’s account. This passage seems to be a partial fulfillment of
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn,
It was delivered at the height of Jesus popularity with the people and with the ever growing angst with the religious community. It comes immediately following Jesus choosing the twelve disciples. The sermon was revolutionary in nature. It taught the hearers to value everything they consider a curse. In fact in Matthew 7:28-29 at the end of this sermon, It states that the people were astounded by His teaching.
The first part of the sermon is known as the beatitudes. This part of the sermon uses a literary device known well at the time. We call this device “inclusio” (envelope). If you look at the last beatitude the result is the same as the first. In other words, everything inside of the envelope is a Kingdom concept. All of these concepts are included in the Kingdom teaching. We then must not interpret these ideal as earthly ideas that have Spiritual values, but rather they are heavenly ideals that overflow into earthly actions. In other words we must understand this passage through lense of the Kingdom.
Trans: When interpreting this sermon we must also as Oswald Chambers puts it.....
“Beware of placing our Lord as Teacher first instead of Saviour. That tendency is prevalent today, and it is a dangerous tendency. We must know Him first as Saviour before His teaching can have any meaning for us, or before it can have any meaning other than that of an ideal which leads to despair.
“Beware of placing our Lord as Teacher first instead of Saviour. That tendency is prevalent today, and it is a dangerous tendency. We must know Him first as Saviour before His teaching can have any meaning for us, or before it can have any meaning other than that of an ideal which leads to despair.
{cont.} Fancy coming to men and women with defective lives and defiled hearts and wrong mainsprings, and telling them to be pure in heart! What is the use of giving us an ideal we cannot possibly attain? We are happier without it. If Jesus is a Teacher only, then all He can do is to tantalise us by erecting a standard we cannot come anywhere near.
{cont.} Fancy coming to men and women with defective lives and defiled hearts and wrong mainsprings, and telling them to be pure in heart! What is the use of giving us an ideal we cannot possibly attain? We are happier without it. If Jesus is a Teacher only, then all He can do is to tantalise us by erecting a standard we cannot come anywhere near.
{cont.} But if by being born again from above we know Him first as Saviour, we know that He did not come to teach us only: He came to make us what He teaches we should be. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us.”
{cont.} But if by being born again from above we know Him first as Saviour, we know that He did not come to teach us only: He came to make us what He teaches we should be. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us.”
Many scholars believe that this teaching was given over a few days rather than all at once. This would make sense. It would be a lot to take in all at one time. The first part of the sermon is labeled the “beatitudes”.
Trans: There are two key terms that we must grasp the meaning of before we can realize the full impact of this message.
I.Key Terms
I.Key Terms
“Blessed”
“Blessed”
As a child, I was taught that this word “blessed” simply meant “happy”. I myself, have even repeated this idea. While this isn’t wrong per se, its very much an incomplete understanding.
When a child asks how a car works, we tell them we put the gas in. The spark plugs ignites the gas which moves the pistons, and the car goes. This isn’t wrong, but it definitely is not a complete understanding. If it was this easy we’d all be mechanics.
Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 5
it almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, as its principal element, a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
In other words it a calm assurance no matter our circumstance that comes from knowing that we are accepted and loved by God
“Kingdom of Heaven”
“Kingdom of Heaven”
Dictionary of Bible Themes 2345 Jesus Christ, kingdom of
The present and future realm in which Jesus Christ exercises full authority, and through which he triumphs over all opposition.
14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
The Kingdom is now in that He has redeemed and bought those in Christ buy His blood and thus should have full authority over His people and church.
for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.
It is future in that one day.
For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.
Trans: With these definitions in mind we come to our text for the next several weeks.
When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Trans: Let’s Pray
Blessed are The Poor in Spirit.
Blessed are The Poor in Spirit.
As I look at this passage, I get a sense that Jesus is not making disconnected statements, but rather there is a logical flow to the characteristics. Each beatitude mentioned hangs on a right understanding of the one before it. If this is true, then a proper understanding of the first beatitude is the key to interpreting them all.
As I look at this passage, I get a sense that Jesus is not making disconnected statements, but rather there is a logical flow to the characteristics. Each beatitude mentioned hangs on a right understanding of the one before it. If this is true, then a proper understanding of the first beatitude is the key to interpreting them all.
Trans: So lets dive into the first Beatitude.
I. The real question is not are we “poor in spirit” toward one another, but are we “poor in Spirit toward Yahweh, God?
The Greek word for “poor” is ptōchos
The Greek word for “poor” is ptōchos
“To Be Totally Destitute and Likewise Dependent Upon Others for Survival”
II. What does it mean to be “poor in Spirit”?
II. What does it mean to be “poor in Spirit”?
Idea: Show other passages as evidence of poor in spirit.
There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?
I. To be poor in spirit means that one recognizes his own depravity before God and we cannot cure our own hearts from the sickness of sin.
I. To be poor in spirit means that one recognizes his own depravity before God and we cannot cure our own hearts from the sickness of sin.
II. This produces in us an understanding that we are spiritually destitute and dependent upon the Goodness of God to rescue us from our sin.
II. This produces in us an understanding that we are spiritually destitute and dependent upon the Goodness of God to rescue us from our sin.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
III. It is from this state of mind that we cry out to God in desperation for him to rescue us from our spiritual poverty.
III. It is from this state of mind that we cry out to God in desperation for him to rescue us from our spiritual poverty.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
IV. It is from this cry that“The Kingdom of God is Theirs(ours)”
IV. It is from this cry that“The Kingdom of God is Theirs(ours)”
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Application:
To be “poor in spirit” means that you recognize your need for a savior and from this first idea the rest of the sermon on the mount is built.
Invitation: Maybe your hear today and for the first time you’ve recognized your own spiritual poverty and sin. You’ve realized that you cannot save yourself and are in need of the rescue only Jesus can provide. In faith, Cry out to Jesus confess to him your need and your sin. Decide to turn from it and allow him to rule and reign your heart. If you choose this then the “Kingdom of heaven is yours”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.