Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.....

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." According to the world's point of view, this verse is messed up. "In order to get into heaven, we need to be sad?" That is what the world would think. But is that what Jesus was saying?

This verse comes from the book of Matthew 5:3. Jesus is giving the sermon on the mount. Looking on the surface of this verse, it looks like Jesus is saying that in order to get into heaven, we need to be unhappy. That is not the case. What Jesus is saying is that in order to get into heaven, we need to recognize that God is great and perfect and we are insignificant and sinful. Our sin is an abomination to God and we need to realize that. We need to see that we cause so much pain to God and we are so unworthy of God's love and what Jesus did on the cross, that we should be full of grief, poor in spirit. Isaiah 53:6 says "All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every own, his one way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

We must repent and give up our all to Christ, but we must also rejoice, because Jesus paid it it all with his blood. ".....And the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Be sorrowful for your sins, rejoice because Jesus paid the price.

Matt (Not Matthew, he is the other author)