2016-05-12
On the First Beatitude

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:2

An ungodly world may reckon the poor in spirit to be contemptible, but God writes them down among His peers and princes, and His judgment is true and far more to be esteemed than the opinions of men or angels.

Only as we are poor in spirit have we any evidence that heaven is ours, but having that mark of blessedness all things are ours, whether things present or things to come. To the poor in spirit belong all the security, honor and happiness which the gospel kingdom is calculated to give upon earth; even here below they may eat of its dainties without question, and revel in its delights without fear. 

Theirs also are the things not seen as yet, reserved for future revelation, theirs the second advent, theirs the glory, theirs the fifth great monarchy, theirs the resurrection, theirs the beatific vision, theirs the eternal ecstasy. 

—Adapted from The Sword and Trowel: 1874 by C. H. Spurgeon, available from Logos Bible Software.

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