January 20, 2020
Poor in Spirit
Luke 6:17–49
Whitney Pickett
Central Truth
The kingdom of God is found through kingdom living—being desperate for and dependent on the Lord, not yourself, your circumstances, or your surroundings.
Key Verse | Luke 6:20
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."
Luke 6:17–49
Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
The Beatitudes
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
Jesus Pronounces Woes
24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Love Your Enemies
27 But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic 1 6:29 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Build Your House on the Rock
46 Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 2 6:48 Some manuscripts founded upon the rock 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Dive Deeper | Luke 6:17–49
In the beatitudes of Jesus' sermon on a level place (Luke 6:17) (and in His Sermon on the Mount—Matthew 5:1), Jesus declares, "Blessed are you who are poor (the poor in spirit), for yours (theirs) is the kingdom of God (heaven)." (Luke 6:20; Matthew 5:3) How would you define poor? It may or may not be how God defines poor in spirit.
While Jesus elsewhere warns against seeking riches, we see that isn’t the point in Luke 6:20. Jesus is concerned with being spiritually poor. Basically, this is just a reminder of the gospel and to see our own spiritual emptiness. We must not be self-satisfied or proud in our hearts or the things of this world, thinking we don't really need to rely on God (James 4:6). To be poor in spirit is to be humble.
Serving at Watermark Urgent Care, I am reminded that being poor in spirit is an integral part of becoming more like Jesus and bringing His kingdom here on earth.
With the woman who comes in seeking shelter from domestic abuse, we get to be a safe haven where she can be cared for, supported, and loved. The atheist who struggles with a good God in a broken world leaves with a pebble in his shoe. A refugee is reminded of his dignity and worth for the first time in the U.S. An abortion-minded mother of five is reminded that she is not alone and support is available for her through the local church.
As our volunteers and staff interact with each patient, we are reminded of our own spiritual poverty. If we walk into patient rooms thinking we are better than our patients or WE are the answer to their needs, we will have entirely missed the gospel and will be sorely disappointed with the outcome of our efforts. If we walk in remembering we are just broken people and pointing others to the Jesus who has brought us healing, the kingdom of God has been promised. Recognizing our own poverty before God turns our eyes off of us and more on the One who promises joy, life, and pleasures in Him forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
Discussion Questions
1. The Greek word poor (ptōchoi) used here means being dependent or to beg. Who are the ones begging in spirit? Why are they called blessed?
2. Luke 6:17-19 are the Watermark clinic’s vision verses. How can you apply these verses to your circumstances today with your co-workers, neighbors, and other people you meet? How can you meet someone on a level place today? What do you think Jesus "came to a level place" to meet with others means for your life today? Do you have a hope that others around you do not have? How can you meet with them and share this hope?
3. Have you faced your own need of Christ? Do you realize that you are a sinner and need God's forgiveness? Don't let pride or anything else get in the way, but turn to Christ in humility and faith.