I've been thinking lately about the wording of Matthew 5:3, which appears in the New Revised Standard Version like so:
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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This led me to ask, "What is meant by 'poor in spirit'?" When I asked this question on Facebook, a friend of mine replied with this:
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The phrase "poor in spirit" occurs in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and seems to have been an important notion to the Qumran community. Scholars agree that "poor in spirit" does not mean lacking in spirit, be it courage, the Holy Spirit, or religious awareness. Rather it is that poverty is not only a physical condition, but also a spiritual one.
If this analysis is true, it seems to shed some light on why there are those Christians who are opposed to helping the poor, as it's a spiritual affliction rather than financial one. This seems callous to me.
What thoughts and insights do you, my boardmates, have?
