Matthew 5:1-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3, NKJV)
Today we begin the Sermon on the Mount. This has been called “The Kingdom Manifesto.” In these three chapters, Jesus declares what His kingdom is all about and who may enter it. He begins with the characteristics of His disciples and then moves to their conduct. God first cares about who we are and then about what we do. If we are the right people, then we will do the right things.
Jesus begins with the Beatitudes or blessings. These are the characteristics that God blesses. They lead to life-joy and peace. We see them manifested in Jesus, and it pleases Him to see them reflected in us.
The first characteristic mentioned is poverty of spirit, which is the entry point to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that unless we are converted and become as little children, we cannot enter in. We must humble ourselves and confess that we fall short of God’s perfect standard of righteousness. We have said and done things that we shouldn’t have, and we have failed to do good things that we should have done. But we also know that God’s promises are true, and He has promised to forgive everyone who repents and believes in Jesus Christ. “Our hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Our spiritual eyes have been opened to see the holiness of God and our own spiritual bankruptcy. But we also know that God is faithful to His promises, and He credits the perfect righteousness of Christ to everyone who believes in Him. We are blessed because we are forgiven, and we know God’s eternal kingdom belongs to us.
By beginning with poverty of spirit, Jesus has made heaven accessible to anyone who will humble himself and trust in Jesus. It doesn’t matter what we have done or what we have become, justification and sanctification await everyone who is poor in spirit and who comes to Jesus.
“Heavenly Father, thank you that you have made salvation so simple a child can understand. Help us turn away from our own foolish efforts of self-righteousness and claim the perfect righteousness that is freely given to every humble believer in Jesus. In His name we pray. Amen.”