Matthew 5:1-3 "When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain..."

"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’" (Matthew 5:1-3).
     

Comment:

This is, of course, one of the Beatitudes—the powerful precepts with which Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. They are guides to understanding how the Power of God works in the world, so that we can consciously work with that Power to realize our greatest good. The first two Beatitudes describe how we begin our spiritual transformation when we feel dissatisfied (poor in spirit) with life as we have been living it. We may feel mournful about releasing old behaviors—but that is a good sign, showing we are, in fact, ready to move forward.

The familiar translation "Blessed are" does not match the energy of these statements. Other translations offer "Happy are" and "Favored are" with little benefit. The more recent “Scholars Version” captures both the meaning and energy of the original with a jolting choice of words: "Congratulations to the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!"

The word "congratulations" helps us to grasp how radical and dangerous these Beatitudes must have seemed when they first were expounded. At this time people learned and believed that wealth, happiness and success were all signs of God's favor. People who were poor, sick or failing in any way were clearly being punished by God. Then along comes Jesus, offering his spiritual congratulations to the very people who were being judged and condemned by the religious authorities of the time. He is telling those who have been most thoroughly excluded from religious acceptance that they are, in fact, God's beloved. What an energy of hope and new possibility his words must have carried to the sick and needy who thronged to hear him!

Blessings!

Rev. Ed