The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus' most important messages. He tells us how to treat each other, and how to worship him. Tim Miller takes the reader verse by verse through this sermon in order to gain a better understanding of Jesus' words.
The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus' most important messages. He tells us how to treat each other, and how to worship him. Unfortunately, this message has often been lost or misused in the modern church. Tim Miller takes the reader verse by verse through this sermon in order to gain a better understanding of Jesus' words. Miller takes a close look at what Jesus' message meant to his original audience, and what it means for us today.
Excerpt
1. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
Are you poor in spirit? It seems as if many modern Christians today have this attitude that God will only bless those who are perfect or who have it all together. If you’re struggling, broken, or troubled, then how can you be worthy of God’s blessings? In Matthew 5:3, Jesus begins his famous Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes, he lists those who are blessed by God, beginning with the poor in spirit. Just what does it mean to be poor in spirit? Is it something we should strive for?
Spiritually poor, physically poor
One thing to note right away is that during Jesus’ time, poverty of any kind was not something to be desired. As a matter of fact, it was quite frowned upon. They didn’t have the social welfare programs we have today. If you were poor, then it was because you were cursed by God for some reason, and no one would touch you with a ten foot pole. The Pharisees and high priests were often wealthy and dressed in the finest robes. Wealth was considered a visible sign of God’s blessings.
Was Jesus talking about simply being financially poor? He was not. He never commands us to become poor intentionally in order to maintain some higher level of spirituality. Matthew 19 tells the story of the rich young ruler. Jesus tells him to sell all his things, give the money to the poor, and follow him. Many take that as a command to sell all our things and do just that.
However, Jesus knew that for this young man, his money was his god. Jesus doesn’t tell us we must have no money. He just doesn’t want us to seek only money either. Seeking God might be easier for the poor, however, because they have to rely more heavily on God’s provision.
The poor in spirit realize their need for a savior
Spiritual poverty, then, is realizing that we do not possess the means to save ourselves. Spiritual poverty is recognizing and even being remorseful over our own sinfulness. This is evidenced by Jesus’ story of the publican who, in Luke 18:13, fell to his knees and asked for God’s mercy. Then you have Gideon in Judges 6:15. He told God he was the least in his tribe. The attitudes of both these men were spiritually humble. They were poor in spirit. The spiritually poor are acutely aware of their need for grace and will look to God for spiritual fulfillment and forgiveness.
So what is the Kingdom of Heaven they will inherit?
Jesus makes many references to the Kingdom of Heaven in his teachings. For most Christians, this is interpreted as referring to heaven and the afterlife itself, which is partly correct. However, this interpretation omits some important things. Today, many Americans don’t seem too anxious to go to be with Jesus. We have pretty comfortable lives, nice homes, satellite dishes, and other toys. I remember hearing a person once say, “I don’t want Jesus to come back yet; I’m going on a cruise this summer!”
So is the Kingdom of Heaven just the afterlife? I don’t think so. When Jesus says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” he means right now. In this sermon, Jesus was telling us what heaven on earth should be like. We don’t have to wait until we die to feel the love and joy of heaven. We can experience that now by being the kind of people Jesus told us to be.
When we become spiritually poor, we are ready to enter the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth, also known as the body of Christ. Just look at what Jesus did with his physical body. He healed, loved, taught, and shared. What are we to do as his followers? It would make sense that we are also to heal, love, teach, and share. These actions foreshadow of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
Spiritual poverty is the first step toward repentance and salvation. Once we’ve achieved this, then we will be open to receiving the other blessings of the Beatitudes. Spiritual poverty is all part of our journey as we take up our cross to follow Jesus. Many teach that salvation is the finishing point. You say a prayer, accept Jesus, and that’s it; time to sit back and cruise into heaven. However, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is calling us into action, not lethargy. He is challenging the religious and self-righteous to do more than just appear holy. Spiritual poverty is his first challenge.
Finally! Understand and learn from the New Testament Book of Matthew.
Try James first for free
Now there is a Bible translation that is easy to read, understand, and study.
This translation is unique in that it is arrang
The Christian Church faces many challenges today that threaten to disrupt its life and mission. This book appraises the trinitarian ecclesiology of John Zizioulas and Jurgen Moltmann and proposes that the Church is a creation of the Holy Trinity thr
