Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Poor in Spirit Bible Verse

Christianity Oasis provides you with this Spiritually Poor trek for Truth on the elusive and essential Blessed are the poor in Spirit Bible verse meaning. We will be looking into that as well as all aspects of the Christian Walk. This Son-derful study brings forth truth, understanding and peace.

Welcome to our Christian Walk studies forum where we share hundreds of intense and interesting Christian studies created to enLIGHTen and brighten your Christian path. This is our extremely intriguing and enLIGHTening ... Spiritually Poor journey looking at the blessed are the poor in Spirit Bible verse. The absolutely awesome and thought provoking message within will truly enhance your be-You-tiful Christian walk.


Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Bible Verse Meaning

Are you spiritually poor?

Jesus shared this Truth:

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Luke also quotes Jesus and says this ...

Luke 6:20-21

20 And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the Kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Spiritually Poor Blessing
Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit Bible Verse Truth

Blessed are the poor? What a peculiar concept, huh? Who are the poor in Spirit and what does the poor in Spirit mean? Let us seek the answer to ... why "blessed are the poor in Spirit" and who "the poor in Spirit" are, as to fully comprehend the truth.

Let's be honest ... It doesn't feel very blessed to be poor ... It feels more like a curse!

I mean, you look around and you see people with nicer clothes than you, a nicer house, new cars, well paying jobs, they take vacations, they eat better food than you can afford ... They even have savings accounts! Now you tell me, which one sounds blessed, you or them?

I will be asking you a whole lot of questions as you read through this Blessed are the poor in Spirit Bible verse meaning field trip, and I encourage you think carefully as you answer them, and think about what answers you want Jesus to hear from your heart. I guess the next question to be asked is do we seek to be blessed ... Or impressed?

Do we feel blessed because we're poor, or are we so impressed by worldly riches that we've failed to recognize that being blessed because we're poor is more than just pretty words, but richness and happiness beyond anything we could ever have in this world? The question really is, do we want to impress ourselves, others, or God?

If God is the answer, then we have to change our attitude from being disgruntled about being poor to being elated about it. It's just that we've been so convinced by the world that we have to 'keep up with the Jones' that we forgot to keep up with that which Jesus taught us.

John 12:26

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

Blessed Are the Poor Choices

As Christians, our goal is to be as much like Jesus as we can be ... To follow in His footsteps. We walk around asking others, What Would Jesus Do, but why have we never considered, How did Jesus feel about being poor? He certainly could have chosen to live a more comfortable life, but what did He do?

So, the next question in our Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Bible verse meaning search for answers is ... Was Jesus rich? Was Jesus what we call middle class? Was Jesus even above poverty level?

No, none of these. Jesus was poor. Jesus was homeless in fact.

Matthew 8:20

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.


2 Corinthians 8:9

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.

Spiritually Poor Warning
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Bible Verse Quest

Hold on just a minute, don't get the wrong idea now. That doesn't mean that if we want to be good Christians we should give up our homes and our jobs like the Apostles did, but rather to be thankful for what the Lord provides. It was necessary for the Apostles to leave their homes and jobs and families, because their role as Apostles was quite different than our role as today's disciples.

If you knew that being poor had some really phenomenal rewards, would it be easier to accept? Could you ever grow to like it ... Even choose it for your life? Could the extraordinary rewards of being poor turn the heaviness that it causes in your heart, into joy? Could you actually believe that it is in fact the blessing that Jesus promised, and not a curse? Could you ever imagine thanking God for the opportunity to be poor?

Maybe you hesitated in your answers to these Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Bible verse meaning questions, or maybe you just answered them all with an emphatic, NO! Keep reading and soon, instead of singing "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" you'll be singing "I Was Poor, When Poor Wasn't Cool."

Let's go ahead and take a look at some of the rewards of being poor in our Blessed are the poor in Spirit Bible journey.

Matthew 6:19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Spiritually Poor Reward
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Bible Gift

Can you think of anything on earth that is a better reward? Is it worth it to go without the material things of this world, to gain the kingdom of God? Here's a little secret. The things we have on earth, we can't take with us when we leave anyway! That's one reason why Jesus said, Lay up your treasures in Heaven.

Next, let's look at some more things that Jesus said in regards to the rewards of being poor.

Matthew 19:16-30

16 And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto Him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25 When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.


Luke 12:15-31

15 And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

22 And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.


Matthew 16:24-27

24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Next is a Proverb of Solomon, which Jesus also spoke of similarly in the scripture following it, from the Gospel according to Luke.

Proverbs 25:6-7

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.


Luke 14:8-11

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Spiritually Poor Path
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Bible Verse Promise

Have you ever gotten anything (materially speaking) that you thought you just couldn't live without, that over time didn't lose it's importance to you? Now ask yourself, Does the novelty ever wear off of our salvation?

Poor and Prideful?

Why did Jesus say blessed are the poor in spirit? Inside our hearts we despise being poor, yet our pride is sometimes even stronger than the disdain we have for our poverty. At times we let our pride get the best of us and we refuse to accept charity. Is being poor something to be ashamed of? Did you know that the person who gives to you, gets a blessing too?

2 Corinthians 9:7

God loveth a cheerful giver.

Doesn't it make sense then, that God would love a cheerful receiver?

Let's look a little deeper into this. I'd like to show you some Truth from the Bible about people who give to the poor.

Proverbs 22:9

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.


Proverbs 28:27

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.


Psalms 41:1-3

1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Becoming Spiritually Poor
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Bible Verse Vow

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Bible trivia question ... If Jesus lives in us, and we refuse charity, are we refusing other peoples' gifts to Jesus? What about those people who actually see Jesus in us, and when they come bearing gifts, we reject them? When someone gives us charity, they're not only giving to us, they are giving to Jesus, too.

Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.


Matthew 25:31-46

31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth His sheep from the goats:
33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

What if you feel like someone is offering you charity because they feel guilty for their wealth? What if you believe they're giving for prideful reasons, to gain glory from others? That's not for us to judge.

Matthew 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

I have to ask, what if they are repenting for something they're sorry for? What we assume of people, doesn't necessarily reflect what's in their heart. You can be a blessing to them.

1 Peter 4:8

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Spiritually Poor Christians
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Bible Proof

Now, you may argue that the word "charity" means giving, but maybe it's the only way they know how to show God their love. Maybe they are prideful, but again, we don't know what's in their heart, or at what moment they will suddenly give out of true generosity, or what God's plan is. All we should be concerned about is being available to serve Him and if that means accepting His children's charity, to us and to Him, who are we to refuse?

Sometimes you have to see the humor in life too. Solomon said, At least the poor don't have to worry about their lives being held for ransom!

Proverbs 13:8

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth no threatening.

Want to hear more about those rewards we were talking about earlier? These are all found in the Psalms of David.

Psalms 9:18

For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation (hope) of the poor shall not perish for ever.


Psalms 12:5

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.


Psalms 35:9-10

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?


Psalms 69:29-33

29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not His prisoners.


Psalms 72:12-13

12 For He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.


Psalms 109:30-31

30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude.
31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.


Psalms 140:12

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

Spiritually Poor Conclusion
Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit Bible Verse Definition

As Christians, we have our hearts focused on life everlasting, after this life. The comforts of wealth in this life are temporal, to satisfy the flesh, not the soul. So, thinking about our hope of life eternal with our Savior, I'd like for you to read what Solomon wrote about the riches of this world.

Ecclesiastes 5:13-16

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

The Apostle Paul explains this same thing.

1 Timothy 6:6-12

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.


Philippians 4:11-13

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Spiritually Poor Discussion
Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit Bible Summary

There is another thing to consider, if none of this has changed your attitude about being poor. If you believe with your whole heart, that by possessing riches, you would better serve and glorify the Lord, you can always pray for Him to provide you with what you need to do that, and be sure to pray that His will be done. Here are two parables that Jesus told that may comfort you.

Luke 18:1-8

1 And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying,
2 There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.


Luke 11:5-13

5 Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity (persistence) he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

When we look at things through a worldly point of view, we become covetous, and we forget all about the cause that we're fighting for. We don't need to be rich or smart or well liked to serve Him.

James 2:5

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?


1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in His presence.
30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." Jesus, by His Word, explains how very blessed are the poor in spirit.

Spiritually Poor Song
Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit Bible Lyrics

Below are the lyrics to an awesome song.
It was written by Todd Agnew and is titled ...

My Jesus

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
(Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit ...)
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side
or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a poster child for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus
but I'm not sure what that means
to be like You Jesus

Cause You said to live like You, to love like You
but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus

Are you Spiritually Poor? Always remember the ... Blessed are the poor in Spirit Bible verse meaning. I urge you to always look for the blessings that the Lord has bestowed on you, because sometimes they may not seem like blessings, unless you really look carefully at them. One last question that you may want to ask.

Am I willing to give up all these blessings, for worldly wealth? Our Spiritually Poor Bible truth shares that it is not a worthy trade. Eternal bliss for temporal riches. I pray that the Lord will help you to seek and find His hidden treasures.


There is a force out there that is attempting to overtake us all; it is Satan. There is another force that is protecting us from him; it is the Holy Spirit. It is a battle for souls. This battle is called Spiritual Warfare, and like it or not, you are right in the middle of it.

How to Prepare for Spiritual Warfare