Matthew 5:3 NIV
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus made the kingdom of heaven is accessible now through faith in Him as the ultimate sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7-8), and then will be fully realized when He returns to make all things new.
Therefore, we don’t have to wait for the physical manifestation of God’s kingdom of heaven to enjoy its royal decrees and privileges, such as:
- No weapon formed against us will prosper, and we will refute every tongue that accuses us (Isaiah 54:17)
- By His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)
- He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6; Heb 13:5)
- We will renew our strength and we soar on eagles’ wings (Isaiah 40:31)
But here is the thing, Jesus only promises this kingdom to the “poor in spirit”—those who humbly acknowledge their need for God’s grace by fully submitting to His authority, as I described with the Greek term ptōchos meaning to bow down timidly and the Hebrew concept of “afflicting” one’s soul (ʿānâ with ně·p̄ěš) (Leviticus 16:29-30).
Matthew 5:3 is a promise to those who live humbly, seeking God’s forgiveness, as foreshadowed in the Day of Atonement when the high priest made atonement for Israel’s sins.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Live Humbly.