This page looks at the first Beatitude in Matthew 5 which goes as follows.
Greek has (at least) two words for "poor". There is some overlap.

• "poor" as in "destitute" (not in this verse)
• "poor" as in a "beggar" (used in this verse)
• A "beggar" wanting worldly things tends toward deception.
• A "beggar" wanting spiritual things tends toward sincerity.

Latin uses one word for both Greek words, losing important distinctions.

More: The Beatitudes

I recently (2021-04) heard two sermon (different churches) on the first beatitude. In one sermon, which lasted almost 30 minutes, the following words were not defined:

• blessed (with meaning of incorrect "fortunate" implied instead of correct "happy")
• poor (with meaning of incorrect "destitute" implied instead of correct "beggar")
• spirit (ignored) and kingdom of heaven (ignored)

The meaning of these words might be important. Note: Nor was the word "beatitude" defined, coming from the Latin for "blessed".

In the Beatitudes, Matthew uses "kingdom of heaven". Luke, repeating some of the beatitudes, uses "kingdom of God". Matthew also uses "kingdom of God" in places, so Matthew did distinguish the terms.

Since Matthew was a tax collector, took shorthand, and needed to remember details, it is likely that Jesus used words closer to "kingdom of heaven" while Luke, written by a gentile years later gleaning his information from the memories of those who were there, was just repeating what he found.

The ancient Greek word "πτωχός" ≈ "beggar, one who crouches and cringes". As an adjective it could mean "poor" or "beggarly". The word comes from the ancient Greek word "πτώση" ≈ "fallen, dropped". A similar phrase is used in English is a reference to a "lower class" or "low life" or "culturally abused".

Contrast the following.

☐ Active: The "poor" "beggar" who is actively asking others for something.
☐ Passive: The "poor" "destitute" who wait for someone to come along and give them something.

To which group might Jesus be referring?

The ancient Greek word for "beggar" may originate from the ancient Greek word "πτωξ" ≈ "cowering animal, hare, coward" and was associated with a "cowering animal" or someone who was a "coward"

The progression would be that "beggars" would usually be sitting or in a prone position (due to in infirmity) and lacking something (superficially that for which they begged) and be associated with a cowering animal.

Whatever the meaning of the "kingdom of heaven", it is "at hand" and, perhaps, was not present at an earlier time. Luke repeats only a few of the Beatitudes.

☐ "Happy" are the "poor" "destitute" "disciples"?
☐ "Happy" are the "poor" "begging " "disciples"?

Luke does not even mention "spirit". Is this needed?

According to Matthew, the "crowd" is lower on the mountain.

Jesus is talking to his disciples (and there appear to be more than just twelve at this point). Are the "poor" just the "disciples"?

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? There are (at least) two parts to the question.

• What does it mean to be "poor"?
• What does "spirit" mean? (in this context)

Keep in mind that Jesus will often use words with double meaning or words that have one meaning and another meaning as a code, as in the Kingdom Parables of Matthew 13.

More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus

If "kingdom of heaven" is the "kingdom of God" and means what is usually thought of as "heaven", then is all that is needed for this "kingdom" is to be "poor" or a "beggar" since Luke does not even mention "spirit". Is this needed?

It would appear that "kingdom of heaven", unlike the "kingdom of God", does not actually mean "heaven" in the traditional sense. That is, it could, as a noun, be a code word phrase for another meaning.

More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus

There is another Greek word "πενιχρός" (peh-nee-KHROS) ≈ "poor, destitute" as in resources. There is some overlap but this appears to be more passive (destitute) while the other word more active (begging). The Latin uses the same word for both Greek words.


The pastor in the sermon mentioned pointed out the two meanings of the Greek word, then used the one for the passive "destitute" or "poor" as the primary basis for his sermon, apparently ignoring the actual Greek word used in the Beatitude. The sermon spent a lot of time on "destitute" "beggars" on the street without making a distinction between the meanings.

The ancient Greek word "τυραννία" ≈ "tyranny, torment" and is from "τύραννος" ≈ "absolute ruler, tyrant, dictator" and is the source of the English word "tyranny" and "tyrant".

The Latin word "impius" ≈ "disloyal, godless, impious" is the source of the English word "impious" from "im" for "not" and "pious" for "pious".

The Latin word "pauperem" ≈ "poor" is the source of the English word "pauper" and, through French, "poor". The modern Greek word "τυραννεί" (tee-ran-NEE) ≈ "wicked, tyrannical".

Let us return to the Greek words used in the first Beatitude.

Are the "poor" "fallen" in some sense? Here are some ideas as paraphrases.

• Happy are the poor in spirit. (passive poor)
• Happy are the fallen in spirit. (passive fallen)
• Happy are those beggars of spirit (active begging)

Why might they be "happy"? Theirs is the "kingdom of heaven".

Which fits better in these verses:

☐ "poor" (destitute, passive)
☐ "beggars" (begging, active)

Jesus does others good.

Discuss:

• Will there always be "poor" as in "destitute" people?
• Would income redistribution solve the problem? What is the problem?
• [Jubilee Year]
• Are those whose goal it is to eliminate world poverty attempting to make Jesus a liar?


• Will there always be "poor" as in needing or "begging" for the "Good News"?
• Can this problem ever be eliminated? [Great Commission]

Discuss:

• Does your church have a goal of helping the "poor" as in "destitute"?
• Does your church have a goal of helping the "poor" who need or are "begging" for the "Good News"?
• How does your church do in accomplishing both goals?


• How does your church preach the "Good News" to the "beggars" of the "Good News" and/or to the "destitute"?
• Is your church uncomfortable discussing issues such as these?

[Evangelism, Missionaries, Dijkstra and uncomfortable truths]

How do these verses from the OT (Old Testament) of the LXX (Septuagint) from Psalms relate to the "poor", the "destitute", those needing the "spirit", etc.? Is a theme of "oppressor" and "oppressed" present?




Sometimes the word is used to refer to "plague" where many "fall" or have "fallen".

What exactly was to be done? We see this in the reading done in Luke 4:18 to the assembled congregation.

Here is the story, starting a few verses earlier.

Do any of the following in the above verse apply to the first Beatitude?

• "preach the gospel to the poor"
• "heal the brokenhearted"
• "preach deliverance to the captives"
• "recovering of sight to the blind"
• "set at liberty them that are bruised"

For each of these there is a (superficial, humanistic, socialistic) physical reality and a (deeper, theistic) spiritual reality.

Which reality is meant? Are both meant? How is this verse usually taken?

In high school I recognized a paradox.

• Pastors, teachers, church people, etc., would make fun of the Jews for not realizing that Jesus was not coming as a conquering King.
• Those same people appeared to deny that Jesus was actually coming a second time as a King. He was just coming "in our hearts" or some other story.

One retired pastor in a Sunday School class asserted that the book of Revelation should be taken with a "big grain of salt".

What is the "sign which shall be spoken against"?

• Will the "poor" or "beggars" "fall"?
• Will the "strong" who are without God "fall"?

Did any of this appear in prophecy? What might the following mean pertaining to "fall" and "rising"? The verse is at the beginning of Luke where Simeon meets the baby Jesus and makes a prophecy.

Who might it be who will speak against this sign? Might those be the ones involved in the "fall"? Might those be the "poor"? Who might "rise" as in be "resurrected"?

Jesus is relating what to tell John the Baptist in prison. It does not say that the "poor" were "fed" or that the "poor" were healed, but that the "poor" had the Gospel preached to them.

The Latin word "solo" ≈ "alone" and is the source of the English word "solo".

Many of the "poor" followed Jesus to get the "bread" (fish and chips crowd) or to be "healed". Many of the disciples of Jesus would leave him when they found out what he was all about. A few verses later, the effect is seen.


The ancient Greek word "σκληρός" ≈ "hard, harsh" as in a "hard" heart and is the source of the English word "arteriosclerosis" as a "hardening of the arteries".

Alternate versions:

Jesus will use the same word for "poor" as in "beggars" in a compound word in the Sermon on the Mount right after the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6.

The ancient Greek word "παράπτωσις" ≈ "impetuous pursuit, going astray". The parts of the word mean, literally, going "beyond falling" as in "fault" of imperfection.