Outline: Matthew 5:3
- What does Jesus mean by "poor in spirit"?
- Why does being "poor in spirit" bring true happiness?
Summary: The Beatitudes are invitations to experience more of God's blessing, joy, and favor in our lives (Matt. 5:3-12). Each Beatitude is a pointed description of Christian character, that is, what every Christian's character should be like. And these character qualities attract the blessing of God and, as we shall see, also enhance our witness in the world (Matt. 5:13-16). The first Beatitude ("Blessed are the poor in spirit") is intentionally placed first, for it is the key that opens all of the other doors of God's blessing. What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? Jesus points at material poverty as a picture of spiritual poverty. Generally speaking, the materially poor recognize their neediness, their weakness, their helplessness, the insufficiency of their resources and their need to rely on others to support them. Similarly, the child of God who attracts their heavenly Father's blessing is one who recognizes their neediness and continually and habitually relies on God. Such a person gets to taste kingdom joy in this life and will most certainly enjoy the fullness of that joy in the age to come.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the meaning of the term "blessed"?
- In what sense should we look at the Beatitudes as invitations? Invitations to what?
- Discuss this idea: "Each Beatitude describes what every Christian's character should be like."
- What is the meaning of "poor in spirit"? [Hint: it may be helpful to recall two analogies from the sermon (the poor beggar and the newborn infant)].
- Why do you think Jesus places this beatitude first? [Hint: try to recall the water sack analogy]
- What is the significance of Jesus emphasizing the present reality of the kingdom when he says blessed are...theirs is the kingdom of heaven?
Application Questions:
- Do you lack real joy in life? What ways do you see self-confidence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency present in your life? Ponder how self-reliance is a joy-killer in your life.
- What doors of blessing, joy, and favor would be opened to you if you were to regularly recognize your neediness and consciously rely on God?
- Why do you think being "poor in spirit" attracts the heart of God?
Prayer points:
- Confess your self-reliance to God and the pride that acts like you don't need Him.
- Thank Jesus for becoming a man, for perfectly relying on His Father, and for dying on the cross to erase the sins of arrogant and self-reliant people like us.
- Acknowledge how much you truly need Him.
- Pray that God would help you regularly see your utter need for him.
- Pray that God would help you regularly turn away from self and to look to him for help.
