John Calvin Commentary Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 5:3 (ASV)

Happy are the poor in spirit. Luke 6:20. Happy (are you) poor. Luke gives nothing more than a simple metaphor. However, as the poverty of many is accursed and unhappy, Matthew expresses Christ's intention more clearly.

Many are pressed down by distresses, and yet continue to swell inwardly with pride and cruelty. But Christ pronounces those to be happy who, chastened and subdued by afflictions, submit themselves wholly to God and, with inward humility, turn to him for protection.

Others explain the poor in spirit to be those who claim nothing for themselves, and are even so completely emptied of confidence in the flesh, that they acknowledge their poverty.

But as the words of Luke and those of Matthew must have the same meaning, there can be no doubt that the term poor is here given to those who are pressed and afflicted by adversity. The only difference is that Matthew, by adding a qualifier, confines the happiness only to those who, under the discipline of the cross, have learned to be humble.

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We see that Christ does not puff up the minds of his own people with any unfounded belief, or harden them with unfeeling obstinacy, as the Stoics do, but instead leads them to entertain the hope of eternal life and encourages them to patience by assuring them that in this way they will pass into the heavenly kingdom of God. It deserves our attention that only the one who is reduced to nothing in himself, and relies on the mercy of God, is poor in spirit; for those who are broken or overwhelmed by despair murmur against God, and this proves them to be of a proud and haughty spirit.