The Matthew passage absolutely says poor in spirit. What exactly does that mean? You interpret it to mean that those who are poor in spirit (which you think is everyone) do not inherit the kingdom, unless they acknowledge their spiritual poverty. My concerns with that are:
1. It doesn’t say anything about it being only those who acknowledge their spiritual poverty inherit the kingdom. it simply says:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
2. Jesus also doesn’t give specifics about what ‘poor in spirit’ means. You’ve said that because prior to this sermon in Matthew he was healing the sick, that it therefore has nothing to do with material poverty, I don’t see how that would rule material poverty out.

So, my thought would be to look at BOTH Matthew and Luke and together gather the context of what Jesus was talking about. I think it becomes extremely obvious what he meant. Here’s the Luke passage:

20Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

23″Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24″But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Now you tell me: Jesus contrasted Rich and Poor, Hungry and Well Fed, what do you think he meant by those things, spiritual or physical (or both)?
Are you trying to say that Jesus was saying “Woe to those who are rich in spirit for you have already received your comfort”?

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” [Luke 6:20]

While studying the Bible, it is wrong to isolate a verse and form an interpretation. Scripture itself proves to us what kind of poor Jesus meant.

Was Jesus speaking about the materially “poor” inheriting heaven just because they were poor? Then there was no need for Him to die on the Cross to redeem His people, He just had to make them materially poor.

“but you have to admit, that the surrounding context in both the Matthew and Luke passage make it pretty clear it’s talking about physical poor.”- Ariah

Jesus spoke this after casting out demons and healing all forms of sickness, I wonder what context of material poverty has to do with that?

I believe only those who acknowledge their poverty in their spirit can inherit the kingdom of God, and only those who are thirsty or hungry can be satisfied spiritually speaking.

Gods thoughts are so contrary to what men think =)

Sidharth

I agree in one translation it mentions in spirit, but you have to admit, that the surrounding context in both the Matthew and Luke passage make it pretty clear it’s talking about physical poor.

You saying it’s “only those” I think is inaccurate. Again, in the passage you notice there is no qualifications on what type of poor, like your making.

Sidharth
TWJ Ministries

Its only those who “acknowledge” their poverty in their spirit will seek God, and only for such is the kingdom of God.

Sidharth
TWJ Ministries