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

This teaching appears to be somewhat strange, but once we're done with it, it will make perfect sense.

Jesus Explained Poor in Spirit

Most people are poor in spirit, in a sense, without knowing it, considering that "poor in spirit" means that a person is spiritually inadequate. It is obvious that Jesus didn't teach that people who are spiritually inadequate will own the Kingdom of Heaven, so let's take the thought one step further;

Jesus Explained Poor in Spirit

The poor in spirit who knows they are poor in spirit, will not own the kingdom either. Spiritual poverty is not a position of strength in any sense, unless the realization of this spiritual poverty leads to some kind of action. Doesn't it make sense that the Kingdom of Heaven will be filled with people who were once poor in spirit, but who saw this spiritual inadequacy with great sorrow, and decided to do something about it? Doesn't it make sense that the Kingdom of Heaven is filled with people who are spiritually rich? How can the poor in spirit become spiritually rich?

Jesus Explained Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit who turn unto me: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.  There is no other way and no other means whereby man can be saved, save through Jesus Christ. Whether -"who turn unto me" - was lost in translations, or whether we are supposed to understand this without it being spelled out to us is perhaps up to each of us to decide. What do you think? A wonderful example of one man who was poor in spirit, who realized it was so, and who turned to Jesus, is the story of one tax collector named Matthew:

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

In just a matter of seconds he looked into his soul; he saw his worldly nature and compared it to the spiritual fortune that Jesus had to offer. At such a choice Matthew decided to follow Christ, being broken hearted at being poor in spirit.

Jesus Explained Poor in Spirit

Jesus says that each one of us is at some time poor in spirit and need to seek him to become spiritually filled. Those who do so in humility will be blessed with a place in his Church in this life (the Kingdom of Heaven on earth) and in his Heavenly Kingdom in the life to come. Those who are poor in spirit who doesn't realize it, or/and who doesn't turn unto Christ to be filled, will not accept the call to repent and be baptized, which is the gate into the Kingdom of Heaven.