“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
(Matthew 5:3)


The unexpected first blessing

How would you feel if you were miraculously healed from an incurable chronic disease?  You must feel as light as a feather as if given a brand new life with joy uncontaminable.  You would do anything for the person who has healed you out of gratitude.  The multitudes healed by Jesus followed Him with a similar heart.  

It is to those people that Jesus begins His teaching on the Beatitudes that speak of true blessing not merely as material but believing in God and becoming His children.  There were greater blessings than being healed from stroke or cancer, and this was what Jesus wanted to speak about.  To the multitudes who just experienced such astounding miracles they must have been eager to hear what more Jesus had up His sleeve when He began to exclaim excitedly about the blessings of heaven.  It must have sounded like music to deaf ears.  

However, the first blessing was one that turned the tables upside down.  It is common sense that when one is cured from a chronic disease the first thing they should do is to look for a steady job to cover for the expenses lost and to live a normal life again.  It is only natural that they first attend to their finances in order to pay off their debts and support their families, especially since there is a possibility that they may get sick again.  

Oddly enough Jesus first words in the Sermon on the Mount were “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”  We know that there is a distinct difference between being poor in spirit and being poor materially but why use the term the “poor”?  Did He mean that those who sought Him for physical healing were now to seek healing of their minds?  Was He promoting a plain simple life unattached to material things?  Or was He speaking of treating others with greater humility?

The Beatitudes explain of the Christian’s spiritual growth in stages.  The first blessing is one that is experienced by the believer soon after their conversion.   If so have you truly experienced what it meant to be poor in spirit?  And as a result the assurance that the Kingdom of Heaven was now yours?  What does it mean to be truly poor in spirit?          

No one is perfect

When you tell a nonbeliever,“We are all sinners.  That is why we must believe in Jesus Christ and be saved,” what is their usual response?  There are those few who will deny angrily saying, “I am no sinner.  I have lived a blameless life before God.”  But many will admit to some degree that they are sinners.  They will usually say however “No one is perfect.  Of course everyone is a sinner.  Yet I cannot accept the fact that unless through the blood of Jesus man cannot receive forgiveness of sins.”  

Why the reason for such a denial?  That is because a nonbeliever’s understanding of sin and sinful nature is completely different than that of a Christian.  They treat the problem of sin merely as outward actions- mistakes or oversight that no one is free from because all are human.  They think that if only they work at it hard enough they can fix these “problems” and since all are “in process” it is fine and dandy.  To them the death of a Roman criminal 2000 years ago seems to have no bearing to their personal wellbeing, therefore the claim one needs to believe in Jesus to be saved seems like religious fanaticism.  In contrast, Christians’ claim one is saved by grace only and not through good works seems all the more bogus because of the sinful behavior of many Christians.  

I was watching a drama recently on TV.  There was a career woman whose mother had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  The hospital bill was beyond relief and even if the surgery went well her mother would end up permanently disabled.  As an only daughter she faced long trials ahead as she was given the sole task of taking care of her mother for the rest of her life.  She confessed the following as she was having a heart to heart conversation with a friend at a bar:    

“I never knew myself.  I’ve always been confident that I had been a smart, kindhearted, and well mannered person.  In the least, I’ve always been assured that I was relatively a better person than those around me.  But those were all lies.  Until now I have been supporting my mother no trouble.  That’s why I thought had been a faithful daughter to her.  But when this happened, I started to worry more about the hospital bill and the burden of taking care of mom for the rest of my life more so than her safety.  I kept thinking ‘Why did she have to get sick and cause me all this trouble.  I wish that she was dead.’  Numerous times I was tempted to abandon her and go live in a foreign country.  For the first time in my life I was shocked to find that I would stoop so low.  I became so disgusted with myself.  But as time went by I realized I had been this way all along.  It was just that until now I never had a chance to take a good look at myself.  I realize now I had always been this person.   If I hadn’t gone through these recent trials, I probably would have gone to the grave fooling myself that I was a good person.”

Although the woman spoke this way, she probably would do everything possible for her mother to go through the surgery; she would take care of her for the rest of her life.  Outwardly she was morally blameless.  She would be known as faithful daughter to all around her.  According to moral and religious standards of the world as long as one does not sin, he or she is a “good” person and not a “sinner".  Whether a person is a sinner depends solely on whether he or she has committed a sinful act.  

But what was the state of her heart?  She desired that her mom would rather be dead.  And if push came to shove she might even have thought of killing her herself.  Even as a passing thought she could have entertained methods of killing her.  Just because she did not commit any outward crime could she be considered sinless?  She herself confessed that she was a complete scoundrel from the get go and that she did not suddenly change for the worse because of her situation.  Yet the world still would treat her as a canonical saint.  

In Christianity as seen in the case of the woman in the TV drama, it is not
because a person sins that he or she becomes a sinner, but because they are  sinful  in their nature that they sin. Sin is something that springs forth naturally like reflexes because the soul of human beings is completely decrepit from the inside out.  It shows that ultimately it is not one’s surroundings or influences of others that causes one to sin.

Two kinds of poverty

There are two words to describe the “poor” in Greek.  A day worker who maintains a bare minimum standard of living (blue collar in present day terms) and is able to provide bread for himself and earn his own living is called “penays”.  This is relative poverty.  But in Matthew the word “ptokos” is used instead.  This refers to the poor who are completely stripped away of the ability to earn even a single dime for themselves.  It refers to the blind, lepers, and orphans who do not have any means of sustenance for their survival.  This is an absolute poverty.  Without the help of others the “ptokos” will die of starvation.  What Jesus meant in His teachings was that a person’s spirit needed to be poor in the absolute “ptokos” sense for one to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.  

It is impossible for man to have complete mastery over his sinful nature.  The only things that spew ceaselessly out of him are anger, envy, adultery, slander, deception, selfishness, pride, complaint, and curses.  Man’s heart is much like the video game “Catch the Mole” where one tries to kill the mole by stamping it with a hammer each time it pushes its head through one of the holes on the ground.  We try to kill the mole by covering up one hole and the mole pops up in another.  In the same way, when we kill one sin, another one comes up, then when we overcome that sin, still another surfaces.   The root of all our problems, the one ultimately responsible, the enemy that torture us till the very end is none else than ourselves.  Becoming poor in spirit is to recognize this truth about ourselves and to acknowledge it.  We must face the fact that our whole entire being is nothing but sin and be completely broken in our nature.    

Simply confessing in moral terms that we are “sinners” without experiencing such brokenness is not much use.  If we deal with our sinful nature as “We are merely human therefore we make mistakes,” we are failing to see the real issue.  Such a confession is a false pretense that hides a deep-seated pride.  Much of confession of sins even those among believers has nothing to do with facing God one on one, but is done for people to see, in false humility to not lose face.  It is the symptom of man’s sinful nature that even our confession is done to prove to others that we are morally superior.  

I was the same before I came to know Christ.  I was a relatively “good” person in the sense that no one spoke evil of me.  I never harmed anyone but was rather courteous, well mannered, and from time to time did “good” to others.  But in my center lay a deep-seated pride.  I dare not go and be with those “sinners.”  In order to prove that I was better than them I needed to be all the more kind and humble.  But in truth I was the worst of sinners.      

Why Jesus as my Savior?

The confession in Christianity that we are “sinners” has a different meaning all together.  It means that “I” have spoken words, thought thoughts, and committed innumerable acts through out the day that I shouldn’t have as one created in the image of God.  All my actions, words, and thoughts aren’t merely mistakes, oversight, or weaknesses but expresses who I am deep inside.  That is why what needs fixing are not my actions but my whole entire being.  

To the paralyzed and lepers who were healed, Jesus is requiring as the first step in growing in maturity as children of God a “ptokos” poorness in spirit.  In other words He is asking us to acknowledge how deceived we are to believe that we are relatively “good” people.  We must acknowledge that since birth we have been sinful and have nothing to boast of over any other person.  

Take a look at the confession of the woman mentioned earlier.  Just as in the Ten Commandments honoring our parents comes next to the commands regarding the worship of God, so even people without belief in God consider taking care of one’s parents.  If one neglects to take care of one’s parents they are considered the worst of sinners forsaking the most fundamental duty of being human.  

It was not that she lacked earnestness nor the means, nor the knowledge of what was right and wrong, but at that moment something completely unexpected occurred.  She realized she was not a relatively “good” person but the most despicable and filthy beast, a devil disguised as an angel of light.  Every cell in her body wanted to deny it, but it was true.  The more she realized this, the more she despised herself.  Yet there was no way around it.  No moral, philosophical, or religious explanation would resolve the issue.  

All people have similar experiences at least once or twice in their lifetime. There are only two things we can do in those instances.  The first is to try very hard to save ourselves.   We can try to avoid the reality of who we are out of fear and disgust and never look back.  The second, if it is true that humans are helpless to change themselves the only other solution is for an outside force to change our entire being.    

But in reality most people even after glimpsing into their true corrupted nature choose the easy way of neglecting this truth altogether.  Since they have no understanding of God and do not want to acknowledge Him they have no other choice but to simply neglect their spiritual condition.  There are even those who live out their entire lives without ever coming to this truth about their spiritual state.  

It is different however with believers.  They acknowledge that they are the worst of sinners.  Even if others may think well of them and give praises, they alone know that is the furthest thing from the truth.  No matter how hard one strives to live a life of faith, offering large donations for the church or to help out the poor, if stripped bare within their souls they cannot but blush with shame.  They realize how hypocritical and prideful it is for them to have thought they were relatively “good” persons.  

They realize that it is themselves who are the “body of death” and the most “wretched”, and that nothing in the world can change them(Romans7).  That is why as King David has confessed “Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight” (Psalms 51:4), they reveal all of their insides before God to purify their souls.  They come before the cross and confess freely “Lord, it is I who deserve to die.  Why did You die for a sinner like me?”

They realize that since there is no possible way for man to wash away their sins it was God Himself who died on the cross bearing all of man’s sins.  Knowing that without the blood of Jesus their corrupted hearts cannot be healed, they confess, “Lord! Why have you chosen a sinner like me to love and to save?” They also know that such a confession is not something that they have come to know on their wisdom but through the inner working of the Holy Spirit.  They are assured that it was God who met them where they were and by grace enlightened them to the truth.   Someone who is poor in spirit will confess before such great love and grace “Lord, I cannot live one moment without You.  I have no purpose or value apart from You.”  It is not that Jesus has imparted in us His holy character or noble personality but that He has called us (who still sin) righteous because we have been humbled to kneel before the cross.  

When did Peter become poor in spirit?

When did Peter become a true disciple of Jesus?  Was it when he made the Great Confession “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God?”(Matthew16:16)  Rather it was when he was told by Jesus not long after this that he would deny the Lord three times before the rooster crows.  A disciple who has denied his teacher cannot be a true disciple.
  
Right after this famous confession the Lord encouraged and promised Peter that upon his faith the Church would be established and the keys of the Kingdom given.  Naturally when Jesus spoke of His many trials, death, and the resurrection after three days, Peter emphatically opposed Him, "Never, Lord!  This shall never happen to you!"(Matthew 16:22)  In simple terms what he meant was “Lord, You know me, my character, my fidelity, and how I have followed you these past three years.  I don’t know about the others but I will never deny you.  I will protect you even if it costs my life.”  

Such confidence was made void after a mere servant girl put him on the  spot.  It led to Peter cursing his teacher and denying Him three times at which point the rooster crowed.  The Bible records that it was exactly at that time “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’  And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).    

What do you expect was on Peter’s heart as he was weeping?  

“Have I been such a coward all along?  Wasn’t I the most bold and faithful among the twelve?  I fooled myself thinking I could protect my Lord until the very end.  I am the coward of all cowards betraying my Lord, and all because of a servant girl.  Until now I had been proud that I was a fairly good person.  How could I do such a thing?”  His ego was completely shattered to pieces as he wept bitterly.  The great rock of faith who confessed Jesus as the Christ was blown to smithereens like sand pebbles on the seashore.

This was the very first time that Peter became poor in spirit.  Although he had been following Jesus in the lead for three years, he has never experienced anything like this.  Until then Jesus was merely a rabbi and Peter a student.  But it was only after he had denied his teacher three times and when the Lord looked upon him in silence at that moment that Jesus became to him “the Christ, the Son of the Living God”.  He realized for the very first time that without Jesus it was hell most grievous, that there was no contentment or joy within his spirit.  At last he had taken his one step into the Kingdom of God.  

Peter‘s sin of denying the Lord three times was a done deal.  There was no way to undo it.  Even in the face of such utter failure it only took one glance of Christ’s compassionate gaze for Peter to be restored, in order to become a child of God and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.  Upon the hopeless despair of man was poured the abundant life-giving grace of God.  This was the blessing better than being healed of cancer or paralysis that Jesus was talking about.  And it was merely the first and most foundational of the eight Beatitudes that Jesus would expound upon later.  

Do you empathize with Peter and his despair?  Have you ever experienced a joy greater than being healed of a terminal illness after first coming to faith in Jesus Christ?  If not perhaps there is no other reason than that you have never truly been spiritually poor.  You have never reached the point of utter despair in yourself.  

In other words, you have never wrestled with Jesus in your personal relationship with Him as Peter has who even after denying the Lord three times and cursing Him came running to Him.  You can never enter into Heaven by merely regretting your misbehavior as defined by the world’s moral and religious standards.  You must come to face the harsh reality that your entire being since birth was a totally depraved heir of Adam.  You must hate yourself to the point of disgust.  You must be turned inside out where pride, pretension, selfishness, learning, intellect, morals, religiosity have built a strong fortress around your sinful nature.  

So when you despair beyond hope at the true picture of yourself and no longer have any strength to continue on you must weep bitterly and cry out “Lord, have mercy on me.”  You must encounter the Lord at that moment staring at you with the same love He had when He looked upon Peter.  The only way for man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven is to become poor in spirit-to stoop down to the level of absolute “ptokos” poverty.  It is Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  

5/3/2011