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“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3 NIV

Jesus’ words, from the Sermon on the Mount, tell us from what place we can receive Him. The poor in spirit are those that recognize their need for Jesus, the Messiah, and are born of the Spirit.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

John 3:3-5 NIV

By recognizing their need for Jesus, they inherit the kingdom of heaven (the promise from Matthew 5:3) and join the kingdom of God.

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Luke 17:20-21

To be poor in spirit means to come to a place where you recognize that dependance on yourself has failed and has come short of reconciling you with God. You have to recognize your need and your spiritual poverty to be brought to a place where you truly understand your need for Jesus.

If you are poor in spirit and born of the Spirit, because you recognize your need for Jesus, you will live for Him in complete dependence and faith.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Jesus was born in the flesh so that He could destroy the works of the devil and grant us victory over sin and death.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 NIV

By accepting Jesus, we experience an exodus from the power of he that is in the world (Satan) to the power and authority of He that is now in us (1 John 4:4), we resist the devil by submitting ourselves to God’s authority, God’s word and His protection (James 4:7, Matthew 4:1-11).

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 NIV

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4:1-11 NIV

The one who is poor in spirit is the one that comes to the end of themself and, through Jesus, inherits the kingdom of heaven.

Adapted from a sermon preached in March 2023.