This was going to be a very important day. In the last verse of chapter 4 we see that some of these people had come from 100 miles away to follow this healer, Jesus of Nazareth, and today He was going to teach them. Notice that He didn't need to use body language to help get the message across. He didn't need to pace around waving His arms, shouting, asking for "Amens" and contributions. In verse 37, He tells us to avoid all the drama and let our words mean something. He climbed up the hill, sat down in the position of a teacher, and let His words do all the work. At the end of His sermon we're told that "the people were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:28-29). At the end of His sermon, the congregation was beginning to realize that Jesus wasn't simply an authority on the Old Testament (like the scribes were). The people were astonished because this man spoke as THE AUTHOR of, or the Authority behind the Old Testament.

He's saying that blessedness/happiness comes to those who know they have nothing of any value to bring to the table, spiritually speaking, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How could He say that? (wink, wink) I understand why it's good to say something controversial at the beginning of a speech, because it catches attention, but obviously Jesus was speaking about things above His head. Just ask anyone with "authority" on this subject. They'll all tell you that being "poor in spirit" is the wrong attitude. If you want to be a happy person, you need to be self-assertive, confident, with high self-esteem, but the key to it all is feeling good about who you are. Isn't that right? Well, that's not quite what Jesus says. In the next eight verses, He's going to outline for us the attitude that will bring happiness and blessing.

So what does it mean to be "poor in spirit"?

We need to see God for who He is, and see ourselves in comparison to Him.

When Job finally got the point; when he finally understood the big picture behind all his troubles, he tells God: "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You; and therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6).

Isaiah said, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5).

As the collections to build a temple were taken, king David asked the Lord, "Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly this way? For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You" (1 Chronicles 29:14).

When we do something good; when we make a sacrifice or give an offering, our first impulse is to feel better about ourselves. David didn't give in to that part of our nature. Instead, he remembered what a privilege it is that God allows us to serve Him. If we allow ourselves to get a charge out of giving, or get a charge out of the good work we do, then we need to ask ourselves, "Where does the Lord fit in to that attitude?" By His grace each breath I take. By His grace I made it here today. By His grace I am able to give back to Him.

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"?

We need to quit dwelling on our inabilities, and have faith in His ability. Then we need to act in this faith.

When God came to Moses with a mission to lead his people out of Israel, Moses said, "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? ...O my Lord, I am not eloquent... I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." (Exodus 3;11; 4:10).

God got mad at Moses for this, but not because Moses was being humble about his speaking ability. Moses was chastised for doubting God's ability. God said to him, "Who made your mouth? Who makes men deaf or dumb, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak" (Exodus 4:11-12).

Did God tell Moses, "Oh Moses, you speak just fine. Remember, you're somebody! Stop putting yourself down." No, Moses was told to quit looking at his own shortcomings and unworthiness, and instead focus on God's abilities.

In Isaiah 66:2, the LORD says, "The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

So if heaven is His throne, and the earth is His footstool, the biggest house we can build for Him wouldn't even hold His slippers. There's only one place on this earth big enough to build a house for Him, and that's in your heart.

Lord, who are we, that we should be able to attend this service, making offerings, hearing from Your Holy Word, and enjoying each other in your presence? Lord, help us to remember that if there is to be any life for us, if there is to be any joy in this life, if there is any way we can be useful, it will all have to be from You and all by your grace. For this sense and understanding of our relationship to You, we can know the kingdom of heaven is ours, and with this knowledge is great blessing and joy. Thank you Lord.