“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,”
The first blessed ones are the poor in spirit, those who recognise their complete emptiness before God and their complete dependency upon Him. The LORD says,
“but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isa.66:2).
Jesus spoke about Himself as embodying the same spirit of dependency on Father,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself” (Jn.5:19),
and again,
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (Jn.5:30).
The Psalmist David recognises the condition of poverty,
"But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God” (Ps.40:17; see also Ps.69:29; 70:5; 86:1; 109:22).
What a contrast we see here, those who are emptied of self-dependency now possess the kingdom of heaven! - reminding one of Paul’s words,
“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every-where and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Phil.4:12-13).
