"Blessed are the Poor in Spirit"
Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride comes Before Destruction
One such reference is found in Proverbs 16:18-19, where it says, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” This points to an attitude of humility that we as Christians should bear. In addition, it points to the lustful pursuit of earthly riches, or "spoil," as a pitfall that leads to destruction. While having material wealth is not a sin, this scripture reminds us that a desire to be rich is often associated with pride—the opposite of the humility we as Christians should seek.
Isaiah 66:1-2 Heaven is the Throne of the Lord
Another reference can be found in Isaiah 66:1-2: “This is what the LORD says: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Could you build Me a temple as good as that? Could you build Me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are Mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My word” (New Living Translation).
God Looks for Humility, Not Monuments
God asks a rhetorical question here: “What is it that man can build for Me that I don’t already have?” He points out that He doesn’t want any sort of physical monuments, rather, He looks for those with humble and contrite hearts. King David, after his sin with Bathsheba, recognized this concept as well. Psalms 51:16-17 reads, “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (New Living Translation).
Through an examination of these scriptures, we can come to a clear understanding of what Jesus Christ was teaching in Matthew 5, which applies to all of us today. No earthly sacrifice of money or material goods will help us inherit His kingdom. To be poor in spirit means to be humble, acknowledge our sins before God, and recognize that we need His mercy! The poor in spirit are the humble ones.
For Further Insight on this Issue go to this Link
United Church of God Bible Study: What Does it Mean to Be Poor in Spirit
One such reference is found in Proverbs 16:18-19, where it says, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” This points to an attitude of humility that we as Christians should bear. In addition, it points to the lustful pursuit of earthly riches, or "spoil," as a pitfall that leads to destruction. While having material wealth is not a sin, this scripture reminds us that a desire to be rich is often associated with pride—the opposite of the humility we as Christians should seek.
Isaiah 66:1-2 Heaven is the Throne of the Lord
Another reference can be found in Isaiah 66:1-2: “This is what the LORD says: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Could you build Me a temple as good as that? Could you build Me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are Mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My word” (New Living Translation).
God Looks for Humility, Not Monuments
God asks a rhetorical question here: “What is it that man can build for Me that I don’t already have?” He points out that He doesn’t want any sort of physical monuments, rather, He looks for those with humble and contrite hearts. King David, after his sin with Bathsheba, recognized this concept as well. Psalms 51:16-17 reads, “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (New Living Translation).
Through an examination of these scriptures, we can come to a clear understanding of what Jesus Christ was teaching in Matthew 5, which applies to all of us today. No earthly sacrifice of money or material goods will help us inherit His kingdom. To be poor in spirit means to be humble, acknowledge our sins before God, and recognize that we need His mercy! The poor in spirit are the humble ones.
For Further Insight on this Issue go to this Link
United Church of God Bible Study: What Does it Mean to Be Poor in Spirit
Note
Please subscribe to my blog, share it with friends, and leave me a comment. Thank you.
Comments
Post a Comment