God’s Heart For The PoorSample

Blessed Are the Poor

Jesus’ words here seem opposite of the way our culture thinks. He describes the poor, hungry, and grieving as blessed. The world pities them, but Jesus calls them blessed. He singles them out and affirms their dignity, while giving stark warnings to the rich in the verses that follow. So often in our culture, we affirm the wealthy and look down on the poor. Not so with Jesus. He says the poor are blessed.

Many of Jesus’ audience that day had given up everything to follow Him. He assured them that they may be hungry now, but in the coming Kingdom, they would be satisfied. They may be grieving now, but a time of laughter is coming. Their reward was coming.

If Jesus affirms the value of the poor, hungry, and grieving, shouldn’t His church follow His example? We should be sensitive to the ones with whom Jesus showed compassion. We should show affirmation to those who have given all to follow Him. They are surely blessed by God.