What did Jesus mean?

[OneLight]

After being baptized and tempted in the desert for 40 days, Jesus began His ministry. When we think of what is first written in scripture of His teachings, what comes to mind to many are the Beatitudes. Considering His opening statements, what do you believe He meant when He said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven"? What do you believe Jesus meant by "poor in spirit"?

[Blien]

I often wondered about that too but I read it last night in my NLT and this is how they translated it.. "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

I think that's the best explanation I've heard so far. It makes a lot of sense to me when written like that.

[OneLight]

I often wondered about that too but I read it last night in my NLT and this is how they translated it.. "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

I think that's the best explanation I've heard so far. It makes a lot of sense to me when written like that.

Do you see this more of a social poor, being of lower income, or a personal poor, being more lowly in heart?

[Fez]

After being baptized and tempted in the desert for 40 days, Jesus began His ministry. When we think of what is first written in scripture of His teachings, what comes to mind to many are the Beatitudes. Considering His opening statements, what do you believe He meant when He said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven"? What do you believe Jesus meant by "poor in spirit"?

I have always looked at it as being humble, having a lack of pride. I think Jesus was not saying that ones Spirit should be "poor", but rather that our Spirit (which we all have in Him), should not manifest itself as being prideful, haughty, or boastful.

Otherwise he would have said "blessed are those who have a poor Spirit", rather than what he did say "blessed are those who are poor in Spirit"

Make sense?

[Guest shiloh357]

I often wondered about that too but I read it last night in my NLT and this is how they translated it.. "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

I think that's the best explanation I've heard so far. It makes a lot of sense to me when written like that.

Do you see this more of a social poor, being of lower income, or a personal poor, being more lowly in heart?

No, to be poor in spirit means to be cognizant of our spiritual poverty without Christ. Those who recognize their spiritual poverty who turn to Christ will inherit the Kingdom.

[enoob57]

After being baptized and tempted in the desert for 40 days, Jesus began His ministry. When we think of what is first written in scripture of His teachings, what comes to mind to many are the Beatitudes. Considering His opening statements, what do you believe He meant when He said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven"? What do you believe Jesus meant by "poor in spirit"?

Matt 10:7-10

7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

NKJV

We are born again in Spirit and our bodies are not... broken and contrite we become for The Love of God delivered to us In the Person of The Holy Spirit testifies of our bodies constant resistance to that Love and the impossibility of selfless living! So only, by the Spirit, I do not want the things in this world I also wish to be free of this body of sin... I would say that makes me one poor being in the Spirit! My only hope is the Heaven of my Father where I may worship His Son without one thought of self for then I will be rich in Spirit... Love Steven

[OneLight]

I like how this has started! I have my own thoughts, but wanted to get a feel of what others thought first, in a nice way.

So far we have

• meek, but not weak. (Genealogist)
  
• humble, not prideful, haughty, or boastful. (Fez)
  
• cognizant of our spiritual poverty without Christ (Blien & Shiloh357)
  
• wish to be free of this body of sin. (enoob57)

These are well thought out replies, where the only one that never crossed my mind before was enoob57s, but fits very well in with the rest. When I say that it never crossed my mind before, I mean in the context of being poor in spirit. When I first read this, which was years ago, I felt it meant to be of a quiet spirit, humble and needing more of the Lord, realizing I was a sinner. Then I compared this to the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) and began to believe that it meant all of these. In order to possess the fruit of the Spirit, one must first give up their own spirits personality, realizing that our natural spirit is extremely lacking in quality, where the end result is death. What are your thoughts of this meaning that one must possess the fruit of the Spirit?

Is this what is meant in Ephesians 4:20-24?

"But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

[Hunterpoet]

The following reference verses in my bible explain it for me:

Psalm 51:17

Proverbs 16:19, 29:23

Isaiah 57:15

Luke 6:20

[Fez]

I like how this has started! I have my own thoughts, but wanted to get a feel of what others thought first, in a nice way.

So far we have

• meek, but not weak. (Genealogist)
  
• humble, not prideful, haughty, or boastful. (Fez)
  
• cognizant of our spiritual poverty without Christ (Blien & Shiloh357)
  
• wish to be free of this body of sin. (enoob57)

These are well thought out replies, where the only one that never crossed my mind before was enoob57s, but fits very well in with the rest. When I say that it never crossed my mind before, I mean in the context of being poor in spirit. When I first read this, which was years ago, I felt it meant to be of a quiet spirit, humble and needing more of the Lord, realizing I was a sinner. Then I compared this to the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) and began to believe that it meant all of these. In order to possess the fruit of the Spirit, one must first give up their own spirits personality, realizing that our natural spirit is extremely lacking in quality, where the end result is death. What are your thoughts of this meaning that one must possess the fruit of the Spirit?

Is this what is meant in Ephesians 4:20-24?

"But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

Well the actual fruits of the spirit, as you say, are to be found in Galatians 5:22

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

And to answer your question as to the meaning of possessing the fruits, I think 5:26 answers it, which is why I answered the first question as to being "poor in Spirit" as i did. We are to be rich in the fruits but in order to do so we need to be poor as concerns pride, envy, causing dissension, etc.... (5:26). But always "in the Spirit" (we cannot profess to be saved and be "out of the Spirit")

[Joshua-777]

After being baptized and tempted in the desert for 40 days, Jesus began His ministry. When we think of what is first written in scripture of His teachings, what comes to mind to many are the Beatitudes. Considering His opening statements, what do you believe He meant when He said "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven"? What do you believe Jesus meant by "poor in spirit"?

I think poor in Spirit means being desperate for the Lord. The literal poor, are needy, they and in constant need of every provision. When we become poor in Spirit, we depend on the Lord for every provision. Being so desperate and needy for the Lord that You cannot be without His presence, and that will drive you to a life in holiness.