The Poor In Spirit

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The Poor In Spirit

By Kim S Calvert

What does Matthew 5:3 mean by "... the poor in spirit..."?

The word "poor" in the Greek is ptochos, pto-khos' (Strong's 4434), a beggar (as cringing), i.e. pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy, although also used in a qualified or relative sense; whereas Greek 3993 (penes) properly means only straitened circumstances in private), literal (often as noun) or figurative (distressed). Mendicant in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language means, "depending upon alms for a living; practicing begging". That this indicates begging is obvious. Why would one beg? Beggars usually were beggars because they could not provide for themselves to work to take care of their needs and they were not rich enough to simply buy what they needed.

The word "spirit" in the Greek is pneuma, Strong's 4151, a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figurative a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, dæmon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. Now did Christ say those that are poor in the Holy Spirit are blessed? This is certainly not what Christ meant. God wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Does God want us to be poor in breath? No.

Let's put the two words together. I have been taught in the past that the spirit referred to in Matthew 5:3 is not the Holy Spirit. But what if it is? If the word poor in that verse indicates a beggar and spirit really does mean the Holy Spirit, perhaps Jesus is telling us that we are blessed if we ask (beg) for the Holy Spirit and if we do we will be blessed. How? By receiving the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that Christ was saying blessed are those that ask for the Holy Spirit?

The use of the word for beggar is striking to me. A beggar has no means of providing for himself. Spiritually, we have no way of providing for ourselves. We must depend on the Father and Jesus Christ. Otherwise, like a beggar, we will die, except it will be spiritually.

The word beg concerned me because we don't have to "beg", in the modern sense of the word, God for His Holy Spirit. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines "beg", "1. To ask for as charity, 2. To ask earnestly for, or of; entreat." When God gives us the Holy Spirit, He certainly does it as an act of charity. Also, we are to ask for it earnestly. I find it interesting that another definition in that dictionary also defines it as a verb meaning, "To make a humble or urgent plea."

My next question is: What does earnest mean? Again in the above reference, one definition for earnest is ,"Showing deep sincerity or feeling". Another is, "Of an important or vital nature." Both these meanings should certainly apply to our desire for God's Holy Spirit.

I looked up the word "beg" in Easton's Bible Dictionary. Here is what it said:

BEG That the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (Exodus 23:11; Deut. 15:11), but there is no mention of beggars properly so called in the Old Testament. The poor were provided for by the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:10; Deut. 12:12; Deut. 14:29). It is predicted of the seed of the wicked that they shall be beggars (Psalm 37:25; Psalm 109:10).

In the New Testament beggars are mentioned a number of times.(Mark 10:46; Luke 16:20-21; Acts 3:2), yet there is no mention of such a class as vagrant beggars, so numerous in the East. "Beggarly," in Galatians 4:9, means worthless.

It appears to me that the beggars referred to at the time of Christ were not the worthless type that we see so often today, but people who were sincerely in need. We certainly are in need of His Spirit because we cannot sustain ourselves spiritually without it.

Blessed are those who earnestly ask for His Holy Spirit!