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Matthew 5.3 – Blessed are the Poor…In Spirit
Being rich Americans we are quick to point out that being “poor in spirit” does not mean financially poor. Maybe too quick. We forget that in the Jewish minds of the first century, material blessings equate spiritual blessings – God pays for our righteousness in coin. So when Jesus says “blessed are the poor in spirit” in Matthew, culturally speaking, He probably means “blessed are the poor, because the kingdom of God is yours” (Lk 6.20). Luke also adds a woe – “But woe to you who are rich for you have received your comfort” (Lk 6.24). Seeing “poor in spirit” as the result of being poor in reality makes the statements about two masters (6.24), and seeking first the kingdom of God even over daily survival (6.33) contextually relevant. Being rich Americans we feel more comfortable quoting Matthew and forgetting Luke’s warning. We forget also another truth taught outside of the Sermon on the Mount but not in addition to, which is that it is hard for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God (Mt 19.24). In every culture it is difficult for a rich man to be inwardly poor. Most of us though, are willing to take that chance. Being rich spiritually or financially, we cannot give anything to God. Being poor financially or spiritually, God does not benefit from our spiritual destitution. Whether rich or poor in this world is not the point, but what often happens inwardly because we are rich or poor. It’s hard to pray “give us this day our daily bread” when you are filled with food to spare and your “cup runneth over” as does your belly. Understand, being poor in spirit does not qualify us to be citizens under God’s reign. Being poor in spirit does not make us worthy of the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the poor in spirit because that is who God chose to give the kingdom to, because it is His kingdom to give. And God chooses to bless those that are hopeless and despised because they are poor…in spirit.
Niebuhr has this nice harmonization of the Matthean and Lukan beatitude to the poor: “Both versions are necessary to catch the full flavor of the beatitude. For the Lukan version alone would make poverty a guarantee of virtue, particularly of the virtue of humility, which it is not. The Matthean version alone, however, misses the ‘existential element.’ It might encourage the idea that humility of spirit is unrelated to the fortunes of life. It is related. Those who succeed in life, whether by acquisition of power, wealth, or wisdom, do incline to value their achievements too highly and to forget the fragmentary character of all human achievements. The Matthean version alone would make the other words of Christ, ‘How hardly will those that are rich enter the kingdom of heaven,’ meaningless. It is a necessary word which emphasizes the moral hazards of success.” (www.leithart.com)
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