Study of Matthew 5:3. The Sermon on the mount Can you help with any relevant scriptures or comments ?

Question

Matthew 5:3....Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.NIV

Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them GWT

'Happy the poor in spirit -- because theirs is the reign of the heavens YLT

Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them NWT

Cross reference scriptures Matt 5:10,19:14,25:34,Mark 10:14, Luke 6:20 ,22:29.

Luke 22:29.....and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you NASB

Comment

The poor in spirit. The humble, in contrast with the haughty; those sensible of spiritual destitution. The same state of mind is referred to when he speaks elsewhere of a contrite and broken spirit.

Note a difference ....Blessed are those who recognize GWT & Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need NWT

TO....Blessed are the poor in spirit NIV & 'Happy the poor in spirit YLT

1.I see quite a difference between the GWT & NWT to the NIV, YLT (also KJV, NASB & many other bibles) is the difference important ?

2.What is the kingdom of heaven ?

3.Is the comment right or wrong , why ?

4.Can you add any relevant scripture or comments ?

Answer 1

Try referencing it in the light of these verses:

Luke 4

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

      because he has anointed me

      to preach good news to the poor.

   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

      and recovery of sight for the blind,

   to release the oppressed,

    19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?sea...

Matthew 9:12

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/...

Those who realize the condition of sin within them are the ones who may realize that Christ is their ONLY hope. There are not many choices, all other paths are leading to death. So the hopeless are lost without Christ, and they might know it. So we are poor, we are made rich by the blessings of God, and not in any other way are we rich.

Answer 2

Your questioning is very right. In fact, you are right on target when you ask: What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Kingdom Gospel Jesus himself was preaching is all about the Kingdom of Heaven, but most Christian denominations have gotten sidetracked on to the Pauline gospel of blood for sin, and have just left the Original Kingdom Gospel hanging there in the pages of a book.

The only way to know what the kingdom is... is to experience it for yourself. For the Kingdom is within you. Jesus said it, and it was translated correctly the first time. (Pauline theologians are out to destroy that verse)

Well anyway, you can have a complete answer to your question on the Kingdom here: http://gospelenigma.com since that public resource sticks with the Original Gospel Jesus spoke and explains that "Treasure hid in a field" that Jesus was talking about.

Answer 3

As Rick points out, the literal greek word implies being 'beggars' for the spirit.  This explains the difference - some have translated beggars as just being poor, whereas others have given greater detail, showing that a 'beggar for the spirit' is not just someone who doesn't have any and doesn't care (an atheist could be 'poor in spirit', but not 'a beggar for the spirit'), it's someone who know's they need more spirit and keeps petitioning God for more, recognising the importance of it.

The kingdom of heaven was the theme of Jesus preaching, and in a way the theme of the Bible.  It's a bit much to completely describe in one post, I suggest you follow this link and download chapter 8, "What is God's Kingdom?"

http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQ...

Answer 4

All new versions are bad news.If it's NEW it's not True!!!

Stick with the KJV,it comes from the right text.

Answer 5

This is the beginning of the famous sermon on the mount, much of which is great and based on ancient Greek ideas.

It gets a bit worrying, though, when Jesus tells his followers to cut off their own hands and feet, and pluck out their own eyes, to avoid the sin of adultery (verses 27-30).

Answer 6

In any statement, you have the literal meaning, and also the spiritual.  The connotative, and the denotative.  One translator will focus on one, and another on the other.  That doesn't make one 'wrong' and the other 'right', but it does yeild a range of meanings that are all 'right'.  Unless we feel our need of the Savior YAHOSHUA, we will not seek Him, and if we do not seek Him, we will not find Him, (or rather be found by Him).  The "'kingdom' of heaven"  is at least three things.  A)  YAHOSHUA in you, the hope of glory--- that you are a subject of the Heavenly King.  B) the Throne of YHVH, --the middle 'star' in the 'sword' of Orion.  and C) the earth made new, and very good, without sin and sinners, to be the home of the saved.  ---Which you focus on while translating that verse will alter your impressions of what it means, and each will give a meaningful picture, and a helpful thought leading to your salvation.

Answer 7

Young's Literal Translation says it like this "Happy the poor in spirit -- because theirs is the reign of the heavens."

1.  I don't think the difference is all that important as you've described, I think the difference that IS important is to note that this verse and the last one of the Sermon on the Mount are the only two that don't indicate a future blessing but one right now.  Those who are meek and humble, those who have been through devastating experiences have a wisdom that is considered a "treasure in Heaven" as in "store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven".

2.  The kingdom of Heaven is not of this world, it is the realm of spirit.  Jesus said to Pilate "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence"

3.  I don't really agree or disagree, I think it goes back to the old Proverb "with knowledge comes sorrow" in that the things we experience in this life affect our souls.  If you have never experienced being the victim of a brutal crime, it's hard to understand the knowledge that you have concerning the hearts of men.

4.  One thing I do remember about the Sermon on the Mount is that Jesus learned this from the Essenes in Qumran.  The Dead Sea Scrolls that were found there show these very verses and were written well before Christ appeared.  However, this doesn't detract form Jesus message but reinforces that He was showing us the way to God as intended in the Old Testament writings.

Answer 8

There is no real difference. English is a difficult language. We have many words that mean the same thing. Also we have several words with several meanings.

If you are going to dig that deep- find someone you know that can help you learn to do original language word studies.

Then you will "know "the answers.

Edit: the NWT is not a translation but a counterfeit rewrite of the King James by a pseudo-Christian cult called the Jehovah's Witness, and the Watchtower Society. They deliberately changed parts of the Bible to suit their heretical doctrines.

Answer 9

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.

Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

Answer 10

This shows the uniqueness of the NWT.  It clearly takes on a whole new meaning.  The kingdom of God is the government that he is and is going to use to clear this earth of wickedness and badness-Daniel 2:44

So, happy are those who are aware of the need for this kingdom.  Many dont even know what it is, and they put faith in worldly governments to solve man's problems, when they need to turn to God through his word the bible and learn what he requires and about this kingdom

Answer 11

Those who know that they have a spiritual side, a need, would respond to things differently than one who didn't see that lack.

Paul at 1 Corinthians 2 contrasts the 2 types.

14 But a physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know [them], because they are examined spiritually.

This is the one that sees no need or that there is anything lacking in their lives.

. 15 However, the spiritual man examines indeed all things, but he himself is not examined by any man.

The one who sees that need, can look at both aspects, the physical and the spiritual.

The physical man is like someone who is color blind. All his life he sees only part of the reality, and never sees the full beauty of the world.

Interestingly, Paul had this discussion with the Corinthians because they were losing that spirituality and he said he had to talk to them as "fleshly men and as to babes". This was to the elders of the congregation, ones who should have keep their vision 20/20 as regard spiritual matters.

So, it goes to show we can revert back to seeing the world as a physical man, and lose the spiritual part of our lives.

Going back to Matthew, the literal words would be “those who are beggars for the spirit.”. This is in harmony with Paul's discussion of the physical and spiritual man. The spiritual man is begging for more spirit, to understand life from God's point of view and seeking his direction.