Cleveland, MS. Own small farm near Booneville, MS | “Poor in spirit” is analogous to the idea of humility. The word poor is from ptochos which is used of those having no wealth, influence. Concerning this verse Strong says destitute of wealth of learning and intellectual culture which schools afford. Think those whose Ph. Ds have gone to their heads. In other words it is the absence of snobbery and arrogance. A companion verse would be Romans 12:1-8, especially verse 3.
By the way, there is nothing wrong with having advanced educational degrees, just don’t let it make you a snob. |
What did Jesus mean that we were to be poor in spirit?
