Matthew, 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Luke, 6:20: “Blessed are you poor, because yours is the kingdom of God.”
Jesus blesses the material poor, those who experience physical and emotional suffering because of deprivation of food, shelter, medicine, and the means to achieve them. Sins of the material poor: dreaming, yearning, jealousy, dissatisfaction, judging others, ambition, not accepting present and always looking to the future, using gambling, alcoholism, theft, prostitution, pornography and other vices as a means of forgetting one's material deprivation.
Jesus blesses the spiritually poor, those who experience a lack of contentment, faith, and hope because of hubris, self-deception, and the inability to put oneself in God's hands. Sins of the spiritually poor (or, the sins of the rich): greed, uncertainty, possessiveness, parsimony, condescension, lack of humility.
Jesus reached out and blessed the poor because the materially and spiritually poor are the morally poor as well.
Luke, 6:20: “Blessed are you poor, because yours is the kingdom of God.”
Jesus blesses the material poor, those who experience physical and emotional suffering because of deprivation of food, shelter, medicine, and the means to achieve them. Sins of the material poor: dreaming, yearning, jealousy, dissatisfaction, judging others, ambition, not accepting present and always looking to the future, using gambling, alcoholism, theft, prostitution, pornography and other vices as a means of forgetting one's material deprivation.
Jesus blesses the spiritually poor, those who experience a lack of contentment, faith, and hope because of hubris, self-deception, and the inability to put oneself in God's hands. Sins of the spiritually poor (or, the sins of the rich): greed, uncertainty, possessiveness, parsimony, condescension, lack of humility.
Jesus reached out and blessed the poor because the materially and spiritually poor are the morally poor as well.