Bible Discussion Thread

Why "poor in spirit"? What does it mean to be poor in spirit? I cannot deeply understand the meaning in Greek. On some sites it is said to mean "wind," as in being inflated, while other sites say it means "extreme poverty, total dependence." ( Matthew 5:3-9)

Hi Debby. In Greek, the word, 'ptochos', means 'one in poverty, destitute'. But in the sense that Jesus speaks in Matthew 5:3, He qualifies this poverty as being experienced, not of a lack in money or goods, but in one's spirit. So, as a beggar has nothing of worth in his possession, the one who is poor in spirit, is one whose spirit has been completely broken & impoverished; he has nothing to live for. Such a one, Jesus says, 'though he is broken and worthless through no fault of his own, he can look forward with joy to being blessed in God's future Kingdom.'

And this poverty also aligns with the account Jesus gave in Luke 16:19-31, where the (physically) poor man Lazarus who probably died a miserable, lonely death, enjoyed the comforts of Paradise, whereas the rich man who gave no thought for others, suffered in excruciating pain. How do these two accounts compare to what Jesus also speaks about: to the New Birth ( John 3:3), of the repenting broken publican and the self-righteous Pharisee ( Luke 18:10-14), or even the publican Zaccheus who under conviction, changed his sinful behavior ( Luke 19:1-10)? All these accounts, including Matthew 5:3, were given by Jesus to those of Israel still under the Old Covenant of the Law. And the Law required that people dealt righteously with one another, looking out for his brother in need ( Deuteronomy 15:7,8) and not to steal from another ( Leviticus 19:11). Jesus not only reminded them of the Law but that (in the case of Nicodemus, John 3:3), that man would need to be born again by the Holy Spirit. This could only happen after Jesus' Death and Resurrection and the giving of His Spirit to all who would believe on Him. Nicodemus should have known about this ( John 3:9,10, cf Ezekiel 11:19,20, Ezekiel 36:26,27).

So the 'poor in spirit' (as the other Beatitudes) are a reflection of this new nature, bringing out the qualities in a believer, that come from a new revived spirit in him, given by God's Spirit under the New Covenant.