Poor in spirit????

[beam]

Hi there,

I need some help in understanding one of the Beatitudes better.

Where Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit..."

what does this mean? I have heard explanations like, it means when you are weak in your spiritual walk with the Lord, like when we are weak then we are strong or christians who are being persecuted because of their faith, so that would mean one would be feeling "poor in spirit" because of the pain caused by the persecution.

But thats not enough for me, i know there's more to it and i would really appreciate some feedback. I have been meditating on this for some time and need some deeper insight.

Thanks and may all your breakthroughs happen real soon in Jesus name.
beam

 

[rojoloco]

The Greek word used for poor is ptōchos. It implies not just being poor but actually being poor to the point of begging ashamedly. It was absolute destitution. It is actually a different word from the poor used to describe the woman who gave all she had. She at least had something to give. Being poor in the spirit means we acknowledge we have nothing apart from God. We are absolutely destitute. Scripture says we have nothing to boast of. It tells us to boast in the Lord. Being poor in the spirit means we are to be humble. We are to recognize we have no ability to be good or to save ourselves. We are completely dependent upon God just as a poor humilitated beggar is completely dependent on those around him.

 

[beam]

Hello there rojoloco,

Thank you ever so much for that insight, one of the other ways it was explained to me (the way i grasped it) the person was saying that this verse applied to those who poor in spirit because they were without Christ, and it made no sense cause why would Jesus say.at the end of that verse....for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. The kingdom only belongs to those who respond to the gift of salvation.

So thank you very much for that, now i understand that, yes we are poor in spirit without Christ, totally ptochos with out Jesus, heehee, but only when we ACKNOWLEDGE this and accept the free gift of salvation and respond to the Love of God THEN we are blessed and then the kingdom of heaven is ours.

There is a song called 'lost without you" so every time i hear that song i can now identify with that scripture.

I am going post under another topic about something else i need more help on which is do we 'sleep' in the resurrection or do our spirits go directly to either heaven or hades.

Pls watch out for it, i would love to hear your understanding on this topic.

God bless you so much brother
beam

ps hows the good ol U.S of A doin? Here in South Africa we jus get hit left right an centre with all the corruption goin on in our government, so i reckon us South Africans can NEVA say we dont have anything to pray about? God bless South Africa and Bless America Lord, make these nations completely your own again in Jesus name....amen

 

[rojoloco]

I'm glad to hear it makes sense to you now. Isn't it great when Scripture becomes clear to us after struggling to understand a portion of it? As for how the US is doing, I haven't been there for 3 months. I'm currently deployed to the Arabian Gulf. Halfway done with deployment.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Where Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit..." what does this mean?

Jesus often used hyperbole (literary exaggeration) in His teachings for the purpose of stressing a point. Poor in spirit, for instance, is a hyperbolic phrase He used to describe the humility of a true follower of His. This humility is the opposite of spiritual pride, as displayed by the Pharisees (see Mt 5:20).

SLE

P.S. - I advise you to obtain a study Bible, if possible. Study Bibles have informative study notes that should clear up some of the confusion for you.