Jesus had a unique way of turning life on it’s head. He spoke of turning the other cheek when someone strikes you. When you’re forced to go one mile, willfully walk another. He spoke of a kingdom where the greatest are the least, the first are last and the last are first. Perhaps Jesus’ provocative teaching style is seen most clearly through the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” To common ears, these words would have surely resonated. The crowd we often find Jesus with contrasts starkly with the religious leaders of the day. The Pharisees & teachers of the law are usually portrayed in the Gospels as a proud bunch, known for their piety and adherence to the Law. There are notable exceptions, but generally speaking, Jesus opposes this group for their attitude of spiritual superiority. Thus, we find Jesus hanging around all kinds of undesirable characters: tax collectors, prostitutes, children, fishermen…common people. Such a crowd could never aspire to attain the “spirituality” of the Pharisees. This crowd could indeed be labeled “poor in spirit”. To be poor in spirit reflects an acknowledgement of our own spiritual bankruptcy. It is understanding that we lack the resources to restore ourselves. It is standing before God empty-handed. Our works, our right doctrine, our outward piety…all are insufficient compared to the supreme holiness of Yahweh.

To be poor in spirit is to be ready to receive the Kingdom. The unmerited, undeserving gift of God showered upon sinful people — this is the Gospel message Christ came to proclaim. The Pharisees, so caught up in what their good works had earned them, were blind to such a Kingdom. Those who were spiritually impoverished were ripe to experience the full bounty of God’s gracious hand. Blessed are we indeed.