Scripture to Read: Luke 6:20
Jesus had just chosen His twelve disciples, and after that, we read in Luke 6:17–18, “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases…” Because the location differs from what is mentioned in Matthew 5:1, “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him,” theologians are divided on whether these are two different events. But many believe that because Jesus’ main emphasis was the Kingdom of God, He would have taught a similar message on more than one occasion. God had Luke record in Luke 6:20, “And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.’” The poverty Jesus referred to was that of those who were “poor in spirit,” as God had Matthew record it in Matthew 5:3. The “poor in spirit” recognize they are spiritually impoverished. Poverty of spirit comes as the Holy Spirit works in our hearts (John 16:8–11) and we respond through repentance, confession, and surrendering to Christ as Lord. Once someone responds to Christ, then they receive “the kingdom of God.” God’s kingdom is not a possibility for those who choose to remain “poor in spirit” due to their refusal to repent, confess, and surrender to Christ.
Challenge & Application
Why must people realize that they are spiritually poor before they can ever surrender to Christ as Lord?
How did you come to the point of realizing your spiritual poverty and your need for Christ to fill you with His riches?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!