Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

friend of · Jul 20, 2017

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit?" Let's take a look a a few interpretations:
___
WIKIPEDIA

Scholars agree that "poor in spirit" does not mean lacking in spirit, be it courage, the Holy Spirit, or religious awareness. Rather it is that poverty is not only a physical condition, but also a spiritual one. Schweizer feels the extra note asserts that simply being poor is not a ticket into heaven, but rather only those who understand the nature of real poverty are blessed. To this group blessing is promised without qualification.

"Poor" means a deficit or diminished quantity or volume of something. Some suggest that a person who is poor in Spirit, is one who admits not to have sufficient embodiment of The Spirit. That person is therefore not pompous, nor do they take The Spirit for granted. They always yearn for more. They are always willing to learn and be led by "The Spirit". That is why Christ always clashed with the religious leaders. Who considered themselves, custodians of the knowledge of God. They deemed themselves infallible and above reproach. When the opposite was instead true. This interpretation is contested
___

Those who feel they are sinful or 'morally sick' and so cry out to Jesus to be saved, are 'poor in spirit' thus they are the ones and only ones that inherit God's kingdom. Those who are self righteous are morally confidant and rich, these Jesus can not save.

This makes sense that Jesus would make this the first attitude of a Christian because it is by being poor in spirit or 'reduced to being a beggar'. That you actually 'begin' the Christian life with this explains why it is the first be-attitude. It also fits and explains the second attitude of mourning which is the other side of the same coin. It naturally follows for a Christian once recognizing his poverty due to sin, he will mourn on account of it.

What is the meaning of "poor in spirit" in Matthew 5:3
___

To be poor in spirit is to recognize your utter spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is understanding that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God. Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation. Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

Why and how does being poor in spirit result in the kingdom of heaven? While the phrase can be broad in meaning, “kingdom of heaven” essentially refers to salvation. The kingdom of heaven is both eternity in heaven with God after death (Romans 6:23) and the eternal quality of life with God before death (John 10:10). God offers us salvation as a gift, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the full payment for sin’s penalty. Before we can receive this gift, we must understand that we cannot make ourselves worthy of it. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must recognize our sinfulness before we can understand our need for a Savior. We must admit our spiritual poverty before we can receive the spiritual riches God offers (Ephesians 1:3). We must, in short, be “poor in spirit.”

When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” He is declaring that, before we can enter God’s kingdom, we must recognize the utter worthlessness of our own spiritual currency and the inability of our own works to save us.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
___

Christ here affirms the blessedness of those who are in their spirit absolutely devoid of wealth. It cannot mean that they are this in God's opinion, for in God's opinion all are so. It means, therefore, that they are this in their own opinion. While many feel in themselves a wealth of soul-satisfaction, these do not, but realize their insufficiency. Christ says that they realize this "in (their) spirit;" for the spirit is that part of us which specially craves for satisfaction, and which is the means by which we lay hold of true satisfaction. The actual craving for spiritual wealth is not mentioned in this verse. It is implied, but direct mention of it comes partly in ver. 4, and especially in ver. 6. For theirs.Emphatic, as in all the Beatitudes (αὐτῶν αὐτοί,). Is. Not hereafter (Meyer), but even already. The kingdom of heaven (vide note, p. 150). The poor in spirit already belong to and have a share in that realm of God which now is realized chiefly in relation to our spirit, but ultimately will be realized in relation to every element of our nature, and to all other persons, and to every part, animate and inanimate, of the whole world.

PULPIT COMMENTARY
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

mark kennedy · Jul 20, 2017

friend of said:
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit?" Let's take a look a a few interpretations:
___
WIKIPEDIA

Scholars agree that "poor in spirit" does not mean lacking in spirit, be it courage, the Holy Spirit, or religious awareness. Rather it is that poverty is not only a physical condition, but also a spiritual one. Schweizer feels the extra note asserts that simply being poor is not a ticket into heaven, but rather only those who understand the nature of real poverty are blessed. To this group blessing is promised without qualification.

"Poor" means a deficit or diminished quantity or volume of something. Some suggest that a person who is poor in Spirit, is one who admits not to have sufficient embodiment of The Spirit. That person is therefore not pompous, nor do they take The Spirit for granted. They always yearn for more. They are always willing to learn and be led by "The Spirit". That is why Christ always clashed with the religious leaders. Who considered themselves, custodians of the knowledge of God. They deemed themselves infallible and above reproach. When the opposite was instead true. This interpretation is contested
___

Those who feel they are sinful or 'morally sick' and so cry out to Jesus to be saved, are 'poor in spirit' thus they are the ones and only ones that inherit God's kingdom. Those who are self righteous are morally confidant and rich, these Jesus can not save.

This makes sense that Jesus would make this the first attitude of a Christian because it is by being poor in spirit or 'reduced to being a beggar'. That you actually 'begin' the Christian life with this explains why it is the first be-attitude. It also fits and explains the second attitude of mourning which is the other side of the same coin. It naturally follows for a Christian once recognizing his poverty due to sin, he will mourn on account of it.

What is the meaning of "poor in spirit" in Matthew 5:3
___

To be poor in spirit is to recognize your utter spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is understanding that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God. Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation. Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

Why and how does being poor in spirit result in the kingdom of heaven? While the phrase can be broad in meaning, “kingdom of heaven” essentially refers to salvation. The kingdom of heaven is both eternity in heaven with God after death (Romans 6:23) and the eternal quality of life with God before death (John 10:10). God offers us salvation as a gift, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the full payment for sin’s penalty. Before we can receive this gift, we must understand that we cannot make ourselves worthy of it. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must recognize our sinfulness before we can understand our need for a Savior. We must admit our spiritual poverty before we can receive the spiritual riches God offers (Ephesians 1:3). We must, in short, be “poor in spirit.”

When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” He is declaring that, before we can enter God’s kingdom, we must recognize the utter worthlessness of our own spiritual currency and the inability of our own works to save us.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
___

Christ here affirms the blessedness of those who are in their spirit absolutely devoid of wealth. It cannot mean that they are this in God's opinion, for in God's opinion all are so. It means, therefore, that they are this in their own opinion. While many feel in themselves a wealth of soul-satisfaction, these do not, but realize their insufficiency. Christ says that they realize this "in (their) spirit;" for the spirit is that part of us which specially craves for satisfaction, and which is the means by which we lay hold of true satisfaction. The actual craving for spiritual wealth is not mentioned in this verse. It is implied, but direct mention of it comes partly in ver. 4, and especially in ver. 6. For theirs.Emphatic, as in all the Beatitudes (αὐτῶν αὐτοί,). Is. Not hereafter (Meyer), but even already. The kingdom of heaven (vide note, p. 150). The poor in spirit already belong to and have a share in that realm of God which now is realized chiefly in relation to our spirit, but ultimately will be realized in relation to every element of our nature, and to all other persons, and to every part, animate and inanimate, of the whole world.

PULPIT COMMENTARY
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It's the way the Bible flips the script, we think the rich are blessed, God says it's the poor.

Godlovesmetwo · Jul 20, 2017

friend of said:
Those who feel they are sinful or 'morally sick' and so cry out to Jesus to be saved, are 'poor in spirit' thus they are the ones and only ones that inherit God's kingdom

This sounds right to me .

WilliamBo · Jul 20, 2017

friend of said:
Those who feel they are sinful or 'morally sick' and so cry out to Jesus to be saved, are 'poor in spirit' thus they are the ones and only ones that inherit God's kingdom. Those who are self righteous are morally confidant and rich, these Jesus can not save.

This makes sense that Jesus would make this the first attitude of a Christian because it is by being poor in spirit or 'reduced to being a beggar'. That you actually 'begin' the Christian life with this explains why it is the first be-attitude. It also fits and explains the second attitude of mourning which is the other side of the same coin. It naturally follows for a Christian once recognizing his poverty due to sin, he will mourn on account of it.

To be poor in spirit is to recognize your utter spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is understanding that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God. Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation. Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

The 12 steps of programs like Alcohol Anonymous, Co-Dependents Anonymous, and Celebrate Recovery are actually theorized to be based on the 8 beatitudes. The first of the 12 steps is this-

''We admitted we were powerless over [our bad behavior/drugs/sin] and that our lives had become unmanageable''

This is very similar to being ''spiritually poor,'' moving out of denial and admitting how broken and empty we really are inside... I am nowhere near perfect but I am so grateful that I can see how broken I really am inside, many people do not see how empty they really are and if they get any kind of glimpse of their true spiritual state, they get angry and offended. My way of explaining it is this- mankind was designed from the beginning to be filled with God's spirit [Adam and Eve] and walking with God 24/7, and anything less than that is a fallen state because we weren't designed to be without God's spirit guiding our lives in the first place. I like that article, thanks for posting it

Haipule · Jul 20, 2017

friend of said:
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit?" Let's take a look a a few interpretations:
___
WIKIPEDIA

Scholars agree that "poor in spirit" does not mean lacking in spirit, be it courage, the Holy Spirit, or religious awareness. Rather it is that poverty is not only a physical condition, but also a spiritual one. Schweizer feels the extra note asserts that simply being poor is not a ticket into heaven, but rather only those who understand the nature of real poverty are blessed. To this group blessing is promised without qualification.

"Poor" means a deficit or diminished quantity or volume of something. Some suggest that a person who is poor in Spirit, is one who admits not to have sufficient embodiment of The Spirit. That person is therefore not pompous, nor do they take The Spirit for granted. They always yearn for more. They are always willing to learn and be led by "The Spirit". That is why Christ always clashed with the religious leaders. Who considered themselves, custodians of the knowledge of God. They deemed themselves infallible and above reproach. When the opposite was instead true. This interpretation is contested
___

Those who feel they are sinful or 'morally sick' and so cry out to Jesus to be saved, are 'poor in spirit' thus they are the ones and only ones that inherit God's kingdom. Those who are self righteous are morally confidant and rich, these Jesus can not save.

This makes sense that Jesus would make this the first attitude of a Christian because it is by being poor in spirit or 'reduced to being a beggar'. That you actually 'begin' the Christian life with this explains why it is the first be-attitude. It also fits and explains the second attitude of mourning which is the other side of the same coin. It naturally follows for a Christian once recognizing his poverty due to sin, he will mourn on account of it.

What is the meaning of "poor in spirit" in Matthew 5:3
___

To be poor in spirit is to recognize your utter spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is understanding that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God. Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation. Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.

Why and how does being poor in spirit result in the kingdom of heaven? While the phrase can be broad in meaning, “kingdom of heaven” essentially refers to salvation. The kingdom of heaven is both eternity in heaven with God after death (Romans 6:23) and the eternal quality of life with God before death (John 10:10). God offers us salvation as a gift, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the full payment for sin’s penalty. Before we can receive this gift, we must understand that we cannot make ourselves worthy of it. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must recognize our sinfulness before we can understand our need for a Savior. We must admit our spiritual poverty before we can receive the spiritual riches God offers (Ephesians 1:3). We must, in short, be “poor in spirit.”

When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” He is declaring that, before we can enter God’s kingdom, we must recognize the utter worthlessness of our own spiritual currency and the inability of our own works to save us.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
___

Christ here affirms the blessedness of those who are in their spirit absolutely devoid of wealth. It cannot mean that they are this in God's opinion, for in God's opinion all are so. It means, therefore, that they are this in their own opinion. While many feel in themselves a wealth of soul-satisfaction, these do not, but realize their insufficiency. Christ says that they realize this "in (their) spirit;" for the spirit is that part of us which specially craves for satisfaction, and which is the means by which we lay hold of true satisfaction. The actual craving for spiritual wealth is not mentioned in this verse. It is implied, but direct mention of it comes partly in ver. 4, and especially in ver. 6. For theirs.Emphatic, as in all the Beatitudes (αὐτῶν αὐτοί,). Is. Not hereafter (Meyer), but even already. The kingdom of heaven (vide note, p. 150). The poor in spirit already belong to and have a share in that realm of God which now is realized chiefly in relation to our spirit, but ultimately will be realized in relation to every element of our nature, and to all other persons, and to every part, animate and inanimate, of the whole world.

PULPIT COMMENTARY
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Greek definite articles were removed by the translators and hid the meaning:

Blessed are the poor in [to-thee] spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of [thee] heaven(s). Matt 5:3 NASB

Now let’s look at this verse from a more hyper-literal translation with the removed definite articles [thee] put back in, so that we can begin to see what truly Jesus had said:

Hyper-Literal(same verse): [the character and nature belonging to]wealthy(prosperous, fortunate) thee-all destitute-ones(ptOchos, far less then poor, 0% you ) (with respect)to-[thee] pneumati-breath(100% God), that(purpose) of-them-same she-is thee rulership(feminine) of-[thee] skies(plural, not of the land and therefore, over the land i.e., the kingdom/rulership of the heavens/skies, being above, is having/possessing authority over the all things of the earth-land, right here, right now!). Matt 5:3

In other words, if we are humbled(not “humble”) in the flesh with respect to that which God breathes(pneuma--information from an exterior source) which fills, nurtures, cleanses, purifies, trains and builds us as trustworthy-ones of God through study, then we-all, so described as being so humbled, are [the character and nature of]abundantly-wealthy and we are the ones who possess the rulership of the heavens/skies, right here, right now, and that, whether we understand it or not, with Divine vested and delegated authority to rule the all things of earth, being over the earth, because we understand the equation: “100% God + 0% you = 100% God” and not, “God helps those who help themselves”, which is neither stated in Scripture nor implied. Jesus did not say “the poor in spirit”; whatever that means? He said, “thee destitute-ones (with respect)to-thee breath--that which God breathes, both knowledge and life”. IOW's you want more of that good stuff!

friend of · Jul 20, 2017

There seem to be many takes on this single passage.

The Greek word translated “blessed” means “happy, blissful” or, literally, “to be enlarged.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses the word to refer to more than a superficial happiness; in this context, blessed refers to a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity. The happiness is a deep joy of the soul. Those who experience the first aspect of a beatitude (poor, mourn, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure, peacemakers, and persecuted) will also experience the second aspect of the beatitude (kingdom of heaven, comfort, inherit the earth, filled, mercy, see God, called sons of God, inherit the kingdom of heaven). The blessed have a share in salvation and have entered the kingdom of God, experiencing a foretaste of heaven. Another possible rendering of the beginning of each beatitude is “O the bliss [or blessedness] of . . . .”

What are the beatitudes?

Godlovesmetwo · Jul 21, 2017

WilliamBo said:
This is very similar to being ''spiritually poor,'' moving out of denial and admitting how broken and empty we really are inside... I am nowhere near perfect but I am so grateful that I can see how broken I really am inside,

Then why don't we see more of this on CF? I see more spiritual pride, to be honest.

Haipule · Jul 21, 2017

friend of said:
There seem to be many takes on this single passage.

The Greek word translated “blessed” means “happy, blissful” or, literally, “to be enlarged.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses the word to refer to more than a superficial happiness; in this context, blessed refers to a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity. The happiness is a deep joy of the soul. Those who experience the first aspect of a beatitude (poor, mourn, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure, peacemakers, and persecuted) will also experience the second aspect of the beatitude (kingdom of heaven, comfort, inherit the earth, filled, mercy, see God, called sons of God, inherit the kingdom of heaven). The blessed have a share in salvation and have entered the kingdom of God, experiencing a foretaste of heaven. Another possible rendering of the beginning of each beatitude is “O the bliss [or blessedness] of . . . .”

What are the beatitudes?

I always translate makarios(here it is makarioi--plural) as wealthy/prosperous/fortunate because that is it's base meaning(religiosities aside) and also because it works well with the context therefore, I acknowledge that it is a general word with out a specific meaning. But, when we continue to "righteousness" in the same passage--WOW! The "Beatitudes" represent the very best of the Christian experience! God's highest and best!

I love that you have an ear to hear! And teach what you hear! Thank you!

Stay shiny my friend!

friend of · Jul 21, 2017

The beatitudes are really awesome to meditate on. Definitely plan on reading more in depth commentaries soon. My original take (on Mat 5:3 particularly) was that someone who is poor in spirit would have a character comprised of humility, meekness, selflessness, and child-like dependence, as contrasted with someone overflowing with a boisterous, ego-driven spirit of self-content in consuming and acquiring of the world. It's important to note that the following "in spirit" is omitted in Luke 6:20.

Godlovesmetwo · Jul 21, 2017

friend of said:
was that someone who is poor in spirit would have a character comprised of humility, meekness, selflessness, and child-like dependence, as contrasted with

But how does such a person survive in the "real" world ? child like dependence especially. These qualities are not compatible with a lot of career paths. Nor do they suit a partner in marriage , male or female, to my way of thinking.

friend of · Jul 21, 2017

bettercallpaul said:
But how does such a person survive in the "real" world ? child like dependence especially. These qualities are not compatible with a lot of career paths. Nor do they suit a partner in marriage , male or female, to my way of thinking.

True. It is more difficult as we get older to rely on God since we have obligations and our persona's become more static and we crave a greater degree of predictability over external factors which then forces us to seek to exert greater control over our lives (including people in them). I guess childlike dependency (for a grown adult male hah) is only okay if it is directed solely toward God. But I'm also imagining those in the most destitute of circumstances, who have lost all ability to defend their own adult lives, and can only really pray at that point, would be nearest to God's heart.

Hidden In Him · Jul 21, 2017

friend of said:
This makes sense that Jesus would make this the first attitude of a Christian because it is by being poor in spirit or 'reduced to being a beggar'... you are completely destitute spiritually.

WilliamBo said:
''We admitted we were powerless over [our bad behavior/drugs/sin] and that our lives had become unmanageable''

This is very similar to being ''spiritually poor,'' moving out of denial and admitting how broken and empty we really are inside

Haipule said:
I always translate makarios(here it is makarioi--plural) as wealthy/prosperous/fortunate because that is it's base meaning(religiosities aside) and also because it works well with the context therefore, I acknowledge that it is a general word with out a specific meaning.

All the answers you received were good, imo, buddy.
I believe the most accurate explanation is found at the very end of the following parable:

And He spake a parable unto them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21)

The poor in spirit is the man who fully recognizes he is not rich toward God, and therefore longs to become wealthy in spirit, and filled with the true riches of His word, and the riches of all His spiritual gifts.

bettercallpaul said:
Then why don't we see more of this on CF? I see more spiritual pride, to be honest.

Probably because, as @mark kennedy said, they have not yet "flipped the script" in their minds, to understand who the truly rich actually are.

com7fy8 · Jul 21, 2017

friend of said:
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit?"

Yes, there are different ideas about this, by people who are educated and ordained, but who have different ideas. So, I will see what I can get through the Bible.

First > Jesus in His word says the "poor in spirit" are "blessed". So, if they are "blessed", they are spiritually doing well, I would think. So, I doubt Jesus means that someone who is weak and spiritually lacking is "blessed".

Also, Jesus Himself says if we are "poor in spirit", the "kingdom of heaven" "is" ours. He does not say "will be", but "is". So, what could this mean?

A kingdom is someone's realm of reality and experience and power and control, possibly. If this is correct, the "kingdom of heaven" can mean the realm of how Heaven's love is. And, if we are in God's love, we are enjoying being blessed in this Heavenly love; and our Apostle Paul says that we who are God's children have God's own love which is "poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (in romans 5:5) The Holy Spirit is Heaven's own Spirit of love, in "the kingdom of heaven". So, I can see how Jesus means that by living in God's own love we already have "the kingdom of heaven" which lives in this love, in us. God's love is Heaven-quality in "incorruptible beauty" of His love's "gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (see 1 Peter 3:4) And this is now, if we are being in our character gentle and quiet in God's own love. This certainly is "blessed".

So, then, what does He mean by being "poor in spirit"?

Jesus says that if you desire something in your heart, you have already done it. For example, if a man lusts for a woman, he has already committed adultery. So . . . like this . . . if in our spirit we are "poor", this means we do not desire to be rich . . . because we are in God's love making us perfectly content >

"And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." (1 Timothy 6:8)

And the writer of Hebrews says,

"be content with such things as you have",

in Hebrews 13:5.

Jesus says how to be, then. He is talking about how to be in our character . . . not only controlling ourselves to act a certain way or think somehow, but how to be in the nature of Heaven's own love in the Holy Spirit "in our hearts" (Romans 5:5, see 1 John 4:17).

If we are being gentle and quiet and content in God's love, we are not trying to control and use people for what we selfishly want. So, being "poor" includes how we are not trying to use people, and we are not seeking control.

And this is how to be, in our character.

mark kennedy · Jul 21, 2017

Hidden In Him said:
Probably because, as @mark kennedy said, they have not yet "flipped the script" in their minds, to understand who the truly rich actually are.

Good post brother, just wanted to add a couple of things. Taking things verse by verse and cross referencing topics is an important way to study the Scriptures. However there are some pretty important literary features that can be informative if your mindful of the context. For example the Beatitudes are an exposition of the Law of Moses. I believe this to be Jesus' inaugural sermon, just outside of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley that leads up to the Mount of Olives. It was the site of the reading of the Law in Ezra's day, the Scriptures tell us there were 40,000 in attendance. If this was the fall feasts then all Jews were required according to the Mosaic law to be in Jerusalem, that valley would have looked like an amphitheater or a stadium. Tithes and offerings would have come flooding in, the smell of frankincense from the thanksgiving offerings would have filled the air along with fresh baked bread from Bakers Road.

Jesus walks up the sloop, sits down and basically turns the Mosaic Law upside down, that's not hyperbole. The tenth commandment is 'thou shall not covet', and the Levitical Priesthood was becoming exceedingly wealthy. In the context Jesus begins with saying the poor are blessed and in Luke's account says the rich are cursed. So for example, one literary feature goes, you look, you stretch out your hand you take.

If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matt. 5:29,30)

Notice the eye, then the hand, there is a similar progression for murder. You murder it's like a misdemeanor, you provoke violence it's worse, you call your brother a fool and your in danger of perdition itself. You can see this kind of progression in the opening verses of the Psalms, which by the way, were meditations on the Mosaic Law:

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1)

See how that works, he is walking over to the house of the wicked, then he is standing in the doorway, then he is sitting down. Now this approach is the keystone of sound exposition from David, being taught by the long awaited Messiah, Matthew is fond of referring to as the Son of David.

I could go on but I think you get the idea. Follow the context and watch for the progression. The Beatitudes have a progression as well but I'll leave you to your own exposition of that.

Grace and peace,
Mark

WilliamBo · Jul 21, 2017

Hidden In Him · Jul 21, 2017

mark kennedy said:
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1)
See how that works, he is walking over to the house of the wicked, then he is standing in the doorway, then he is sitting down. Now this approach is the keystone of sound exposition from David

That's very interesting, Mark. I had not noticed a lot of progression off hand (such as in the Beatitudes), but I have noticed the literary use of groups of threes a lot, especially in giving examples. Jude, apparently a Jew's Jew, did this several times in the course of a single small letter (Jude 1:5-7, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:11).

Thanks for your post. You make for good reading. :oldthumbsup:

mark kennedy · Jul 21, 2017

Hidden In Him said:
That's very interesting, Mark. I had not noticed a lot of progression off hand (such as in the Beatitudes), but I have noticed the literary use of groups of threes a lot, especially in giving examples. Jude, apparently a Jew's Jew, did this several times in the course of a single small letter (Jude 1:5-7, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:11).

Thanks for your post. You make for good reading.

Yea, your more Jewish writers would do that, I think it's reminiscent of the parallelisms where the writer would repeat the same thing in slightly different words. The Proverbs are big on that.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

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