Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (Matthew 5:3)

 

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (Matthew 5:3)

Matt. 5:3 — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.”

Aspect	Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (Matthew 5:3)
Meaning	“Poor in spirit” refers to a person who, in the depth of his human spirit, is emptied of all self-content, realizing his need for God and depending solely on Him. The “spirit” here is the human spirit, not the Holy Spirit. To be poor in spirit means to be emptied to receive the new things of the kingdom of the heavens.
Significance / Symbol	① A humble and lowly spirit (Isa. 66:2); ② An emptied vessel ready to receive God’s kingdom; ③ A heart that trembles at God’s word; ④ A gentle and quiet spirit without self-importance or pride.
Result / Effect	① Theirs is the kingdom of the heavens—they participate in the reality of the church life today and will share in the manifestation of the kingdom in the future; ② Their spirit becomes the channel through which God can freely flow and fill; ③ They continually receive fresh revelation and experience of Christ; ④ They become those whom God looks upon and delights in.
Explanation	To be poor in spirit does not mean having a poor or weak spirit, but rather an emptied spirit. Such poverty enables us to let go of old experiences, knowledge, and achievements, to receive God’s fresh supply. When our spirit is full of other things, even good ones, there is no room for the Lord. True humility is not merely outward but inward in the spirit, soft, open, and receptive.
Examples	① Isaiah—saw the Lord and confessed his uncleanness (Isa. 6:5); ② The tax collector—“God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13); ③ Paul—counted all things loss for Christ (Phil. 3:8); ④ Peter—learned to have “the meek and quiet spirit” (1 Pet. 3:4).
Application	① Pray daily: “Lord, empty me; make me poor in spirit so I can contain You more.” ② Lay aside old experiences and self-satisfaction, remaining fresh and open. ③ Keep a soft, trembling heart toward God’s word. ④ Practice humility and emptiness in church life so that the kingdom may be realized among us.
Related Scriptures	Matt. 5:3 — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.” Isa. 66:2 — “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.” Matt. 4:17 — “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” Luke 18:13–14 — “The tax collector...said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’...This man went down to his house justified.” Phil. 3:8 — “I count all things to be loss because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” 1 Pet. 3:4 — “Let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
Core Summary	To be poor in spirit is to empty oneself to make room for God—this is the first and foundational blessing of the nine in Matthew 5. It marks the entrance into the reality of the kingdom of the heavens and allows continual experience of God’s dispensing.
Conclusion	The poor in spirit are those who have emptied their inner being for God’s filling. Such ones enjoy the present reality of the kingdom in the church life and will share its full manifestation in the coming age.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training  General Topic: Matthew 5-7 Vital Aspects Chapter 1 The Blessing of the Poor in Spirit and the Pure in Heart, Who Are Under the Heavenly Rule of Christ the New King, and Who See God and Express Himself in His Life, and Have His Authority to Represent Him