The
First Beatitude: Heirs of Heaven
Scripture Text: Matthew
5:3; 2 Kings 7:3-11
"Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
In
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we can draw four observations
from the first beatitude:
1.
There is a standard of approval set by God
There
are many standards of approval in our secular world. Approval
is usually given by ourselves or others. Success is measured
by how much money we earn or how much we have flattered our
boss to gain his approval.
Yet
we forget how we got to that place of success. The right answer
is not – by my hard work, my extensive contacts, or
my managerial ability – rather, it is simply God. Deuteronomy
8:3 records, “Man does not live by bread alone, but
by every word from the mouth of God.” Without God, no
one survives.
What
about the standard of God’s approval? The Beatitudes
put into correct perspective: what God delights
in – and approves. Kent Hughes, in his analysis
of the Sermon on the Mount, says: “Contrary to popular
opinion, blessed does not mean happy. Happiness
is a feeling, but Jesus is not declaring how people feel;
rather he is making an objective statement about what God
thinks of them. Blessed is a positive judgment by God on the
individual that means “to be approved” or “to
find approval.”
2.
We are poor in spirit
The
Greek word “poor” in this text, “ptochos”,
means “to cower and cringe like a beggar, wretchedly
begging.” Thus “blessed are the poor in spirit”
means “blessed are those who are so desperately poor
in their spiritual resources that they realise they must have
help from outside sources.”
It
is about recognising our personal moral unworthiness - Kent
Hughes renders as those who realise that they have nothing
within themselves to commend them to God.
Moses
realised his lack of ability in Exodus 33:15. He says to God:
“If you don’t personally go with us, don’t
make us leave this place.” (NLT) It would have been
easy for Israel to look at their miraculous escape –
for Moses to look at his God-given authority – and to
neglect having God’s presence go with him. Yet, Moses
realised deep within himself he was spiritually poor. He desperately
needed God to be alongside him – otherwise he would
not be able to complete the journey to the Promised Land.
3.
Heaven is promised to us
This
is what the Bible calls the good news: To those who realise
what they do not have – Jesus has paid for the gap in
what we lack, in terms of our own poverty of spirit.
If
we seek God’s approval and not false standards of approval,
we realise that Heaven is already given to us. And though
the going is tough, we have the hope and strength to go on.
There
is a story that parallels our mortal situation from 2 Kings
7:3-11:
Undeserving—There
were four lepers, imperfect and bearing no record of having
done any good. Like the lepers, we ourselves are fallen and
incomplete.
Dependent—The
lepers were outcasts dependent on others for food. Living
outside of Heaven, we are also dependent on God’s grace.
Desperate—The lepers
realised that they would starve if they remained in the city.
Out of desperation, they decided to surrender to the Aramean
army. We too realise the futility and limitation of our earthly
life, and the sense of helpless desperation it creates.
Saved
by grace—When they came to the edge of the
Aramean camp, the lepers found out that God had already helped
them and defeated the Aramean army. They did nothing to earn
their freedom. The same applies today: We are the undeserving
recipients of God’s abundant grace. If we follow God,
spiritual victory is ours.
4.
Heaven is promised to us because of God’s grace and
compassion
Kingdoms
are given – they are conquered. But here in the lepers’
story and for us – we can do nothing. Only God fights
the battles of eternity for us. And He has won it for us.
The heavenly prize is given, not out of merit, nor favoritism,
but out of His love, grace and compassion.
This
is God’s love that we must respond to, this day.
Prayer
Response
Our
Heavenly Father, what a God of generous grace and compassion
You are. We, on the other hand, are poor in spirit. We desperately
need You. Hear our cry to You this day. May we always look
to You. May You fill us and mould us, and use us as You will.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional
based on a message by Rev Joel Yong