View source for Poor in spirit

== The Poor in spirit ==

: '''"Blessed [are] the [[poor in spirit]]: for theirs is the [[kingdom of heaven]]."''' [[Matthew 5]]:3

The word we see as ''poor'' is ''ptochos''<Ref name="ptochos">{{4434}}</Ref> from  root ''ptoeo'' or ''pipto'', a ''beggar'', one who is destitute, a pauper and is related to the idea that someone has "fallen down" so that they have become ''afflicted'' or ''destitute''.

It can be translated ''beggar'' or ''beggarly''. To be poor in spirit is someone who is a beggar in the sense they know they need help and are willing to ask for that help. 

This verse is sometimes related to other verses about poor people praying:

: [[Matthew 21]]:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
: John 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

The poor <Ref name="ptochos">{{4434}}</Ref> in spirit are not the same as the poor.

The [[Poor in spirit]] is often translated in many bibles as just "the poor" yet in almost every original text written Matthew writes in the Greek "πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι" meaning "the poor<Ref name="ptochos">{{4434}}</Ref> in spirit<Ref name="pneuma">{{4151}}</Ref>" which is not  the same as the poor financially.



But this is not about being financially poor.

=== Happy or blessed ===

First, we should note that the word rendered ''blessed''(μακαριοι) in [[Matthew 5]], "properly means happy"<Ref>Benson Commentary</Ref> and is not the same as the term we see  used in [[Matthew 23]]:39(Εὐλογημένος Eulogēmenos)<Ref>[[Matthew 23]]:39 "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."</Ref> nor [[Matthew 25]]:34(εὐλογημένοι eulogēmenoi)<Ref>[[Matthew 25]]:34 "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"</Ref>. In '''[[Matthew 5]]''' we see the Greek term Makarioi (Μακάριοι)<Ref name="makarios">{{3107}}</Ref> for "happy" repeated as [[Blessed]].

That is a common theme in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
 


[[James 4]]:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1 John 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

To be [[poor in spirit]] would be the antithesis of the entitlement mind set.

== The poor blessed in Luke ==

But there is another place we see this reference to the poor that is blessed by God. But to understand the reference in context you must look at who is being spoken to and why they are singled out for this blessing.

:  "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, '''Blessed [''be ye''] poor''' <4434>: for yours is the [[kingdom of God]]." [[Luke 6]]:20

In [[Luke 6]]:20 Jesus is talking specifically to His disciples "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said".

Later in [[Luke 12]] that he will appoint them a kingdom as his [[little flock]].<Ref>[[Luke 12]]:32  "Fear not, [[little flock]]; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."</Ref> This, of course, is why "for yours is the [[kingdom of God]]."

In [[Matthew 5]] he is talking to the whole crowd of people who followed Him in a completely different context. 

While the word  ''Blessed'' is the same the Greek term Makarioi (Μακάριοι)<Ref name="makarios">{{3107}}</Ref> meaning "happy" which we saw in '''[[Matthew 5]]''' the phrase "[''be ye'']" is added.  

Jesus had already made a number of requirements for his [[disciples]] concerning making themselves poor in [[Luke 14]].<Ref>[[Luke 14]]:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.</Ref> The idea of hating Father and Mother was about giving up their inheritance. This was the same requirement imposed by God on those who were [[called out]] as the [[Levites]] were called to be the ministers of Israel, which was the [[kingdom of God]] back in [[Numbers 18]].<Ref>[[Numbers 18]]:20  And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I [am] thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 19  All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it [is] a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. 20 ¶  And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I [am] thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 21  And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, [even] the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.</Ref>

These [[doctrines of Jesus]] were virtually the ''decrees of Christ'' the king of the [[kingdom of God]] taken from the [[Pharisees]]<Ref name="ktaken">{{ktaken}}</Ref> and appointed to the [[Little flock]]. While it is not popular with those [[modern Church]] ministers who retire with vast fortunes but it seems to be including what might be called a "'''[[vow of poverty]]'''".<Ref>[[Luke 14]]:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that [[vow of poverty|forsaketh not all that he hath]], he cannot be my disciple. </Ref>

== Aramaic terms ==

While Jesus likely knew Greek it is well accepted the sermon on the mount was given in Aramaic. The Aramaic idiom Miskaneh can be used to describe  someone "who voluntarily gives up all material things for a spiritual benefit". Or in other words becoming materially poor to become spiritually rich.

As bond servants of Christ and servants of His [[Kingdom of God]] they had the beggarly spirit that Christ would bless and had  ''[[vow of poverty|forsaken all that that they had]]''.

'''[[Was Jesus rich]]?''' Jesus was said to be rich by Paul but gave up his wealth to be minister to the people.<Ref>[[2 Corinthians 8]]:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.</Ref>

The ''[[poor in spirit]]'' would be ‘miskaneh brooh’ in Aramaic which would represent a  figure of speech meaning “not prideful” or the  reverse of “[[wantonness]]”.

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== Footnotes ==

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