More on the beautiitudes

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 
 
 “Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted. “

 “Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.”  
 
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.” 
 7″Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.” 

 “Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.” 

It’s been such an interesting thing, spending a day on each of the above verses.  I sometimes get frustrated or skeptical around people who choose only one verse and try to squeeze all sorts of meaning out of just one word.  Going through the verses in order seems to combine some of the benefits of take a close, tight-in view with some of the benefits of taking a longer perspective at scripture.

I was in an interesting discussion with a friend around the first verse.  It’s easy to rush through that verse, and never notice or wrestle with what the meaning of that phrase, poor in spirit.   This friend and I were negoitating that question, and I think we came to some truths that were accurate.  But I also think that if we’d looked ahead, we would have unvieled some things.

I wonder if the verses that follow are meant to explain the first one.  I wonder if the meaning of “poor in spirit” is explained in what follows.  Even if it’s not intended as a sort-of topic sentence, Jesus certainly wouldn’t give us contradictory instructions. 

Based on the verses that follow, to be poor in spirit, then, might mean to be: mourning, meek, hungry for rightousness, and merciful.

By extension, to be poor in spirit, one could not be self-satisfied, agressive, content with rightousness, and merciless.