6:20
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God”. In Matthew’s version it talks of the “poor in spirit”. So are we talking about spiritually poor or materially poor here? The answer is probably both. However, Jesus is definitely not promoting any form of “liberation theology”. The disciples were poor in spirit, as we all are. And the religious leaders would have made them painfully aware of this. The kingdom comes to save the poor in spirit. Many would also be materially poor, and future events would lead to many of the Christians being poor. Indeed there are many poor Christians in the world today, possibly the majority. Just as there is no room for “liberation theology”, neither is there any room for a “prosperity gospel”. Jesus came to give the kingdom to the poor. The world may have rejected them, but God has invited them into His kingdom, and this is a far greater blessing than anything the world or the religious leaders can give.
6:21
Again, Matthew has it slightly differently, speaking of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. We have a terrible habit of separating the spiritual and the material, in the Bible the two are closely linked, each impacting the other. Matthew does not have “those who weep now”. The essence of the message here is that in this world we may feel second rate, we may be in lack, whether it be emotional or material, but God will bring justice, He will satisfy our hunger. Where are we looking for satisfaction? Is it from the world, or is it from God? We are only truly blessed if we are looking to God for our supply.
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