What Is Blessed About Being Poor?
from “Jesus’ Attitudes of Happiness” Series
Matthew 5:1-3
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Like the Psalms, Jesus begins his public teaching with the theme of happiness.
Psalm 1:1
Matthew 5:1-3
Jesus had been fasting in the wilderness when Satan offered Him three plans:
- Stones into bread = the
- Jump from the temple = the
- Worship Satan and acquire power = the
There are three parts to each Beatitude:
- A rooted in happiness
- The to discovery
- The in our lives
The English word “blessed” comes from the Hebrew word “asher”.
In the Old Testament, “asher” always connected with the blessing of God.
“Blessed” was the word of between God and His people.
The Greek word “makários“ means more than our English word “happy”.
Matthew 5:3
The Greek word “ptóchos” means abject poverty.
In Hebrew “ani” relates poverty to and as in Psalm 34:4-6.
The happiness Jesus promises is rooted in .
The first step toward a life of true happiness is the attitude that says, “, I can’t do it .”
Charles Spurgeon warns us “not to be proud of race, face, or place.”
C.S. Lewis wrote, “Pride leads to every other vice…”
Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit.”
Eric Greiten’s book Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life
“I begin with humility, I act with humility, I end with humility. Humility leads to clarity. Humility leads to an open mind and a forgiving heart. With an open mind and a forgiving heart, I see every person as superior to me in some way; With every person as my teacher, I grow in wisdom. As I grow in wisdom, humility becomes ever more my guide. I begin with humility, I act with humility, I end with humility.”
Two Miracle-Working Confessions:
- . “Your chains can lead to change if you are willing to say these three words.
- . Honesty will set you free!
Psalm 51:17
So, what holds us back?
Un-holy vs. holy