BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3.
There is a Hebrew poetic structure in the Beatitudes, called reverse concentric symmetry. Verse 5 and verse 3 are saying the same thing. They are like bookends which enclose a central thought that summarises the whole thing.
1. “Poor in spirit” and “meekness“ are basically the same idea.
2. “Kingdom of heaven” and “inherit the earth” are the same idea.
3. “Mourning” is in the centre. What does it mean to mourn?
Jesus is not talking about “baruch” but “asher” here (as explained in the previous article), the happiness that comes as a reward for good deeds, good decisions and Torah observance, a list of things that would be good for us and benefit us, helping to bring our lives together in completion and wholeness. It is good to receive the supernatural, undeserved blessings of God but, most of the time we are living the consequences of good or bad decisions. Jesus is pleading with us to listen to His wisdom so that we can be happy. Do we really believe that, regardless of heaven or hell, Jesus’ way is the best way for us to live now, in this life?
Since Jesus probably spoke Hebrew to His fellow Jews, He would have thought and taught in Hebrew.
ANI HA RUACH is translated “poor in spirit”. Spirit, meaning “breath” or “wind”, refers to what gives us life. It can either refer to the breath God gives us or the “windiness” or being puffed up with pride that comes from the fallen spirit. In this verse it has the connotation of windiness or pride.
Jesus is saying, “Happy is the person who chooses to live a life that is poor in pride,” – not trying to promote oneself. A life of self promotion is a life of disappointment. Isaiah 66:2. “This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
ANI = poor, ANA = meek, come from the same root and are saying the same thing. Meekness comes from the idea of a horse’s strength submitted to his rider.
“The kingdom of God” and “inheriting the land” are also saying the same thing. They refer to living in the realm where God’s best way to live is put into practice (Psalm 37:11 – the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace).
Who is the person who is poor in pride and meek?
1. Someone who does not promote himself or dress or act to draw attention to himself.
2. Someone who is not secretly angry when he is not noticed.
3. Someone who does not demand a reward for his good deeds.
4. Someone who can draw non-violent boundaries around himself.
So, in the first beatitude, Jesus is saying that a humble and meek spirit that does not promote itself produces happiness and allows one to enjoy living in the kingdom of God.