Luke 6:20-22
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed 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.
The word translated “blessed” in Luke 6:20-22 is the same word translated “blessed” in Mathew 5:3-11. It is the Greek word makarios that carries the meanings of being supremely blessed, fortunate, well off, and happy. The Amplified Bible translates Luke 6:20 as Blessed (happy-with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition—and to be envied) are you poor…The word translated as “poor” in Luke 6:20 is the Greek word ptochos that could also be translated: a beggar, pauper, distressed. This word is related to the Greek words ptoeo which means to scare or frighten and is related to pipto and carries the ideas of causing to fall or fly away. To finish the Amplified Bible version of the verse: Blessed (happy-with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition—and to be envied) are you poor and afflicted (destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor), for the kingdom of God is yours! When Jesus addresses the “poor” he is addressing those who are in financial lack, but also those without any thing that the world would consider valuable (wealth, influence, position, honor, respect). Look at how the Amplified Bible translates Luke 20:24-26:
But woe to (alas for) you who are rich (abounding in material resources), for you already are receiving your consolation (the solace and sense of strengthening and cheer that come from prosperity) and have taken and enjoyed your comfort in full [having nothing left to be awarded you].
If you are to look at other verses concerning the Kingdom of God you will find that His kingdom is the place where he exercises his full authority and will. There are a lot of things we experience on earth that are not his will, poverty being one. Our blessing comes as we seek first His kingdom, putting our heart first in love with him, and Him first in our heart and desires, then he is able to pour out and add to us all these things. Those described in verses 24-26 have cut off their heart need for God. They have surrounded themselves with the pleasures and respect that wealth has offered them. There is nothing else that they could ever imagine to satisfy their heart. What more could there be? They have respect, honor, and any comfort or pleasure that they could ever want. Their hearts are full, and there is no room left for God. Yet this kind of life, excluding God and the favor of walking in His life, accompanies the curses of poverty, hunger, mourning and praise from men.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Greek word here for “treasures” is thesaurus and means a literal or figurative deposit, that is, wealth or treasure. This word comes from the word tithemi, meaning that the treasure is appointed, committed, ordained or laid up for a specific purpose. The word translated “treasures” here automatically carries the meaning from tithemi of appointing or committing the treasure for a specific purpose. I have set aside savings for the “car fund,” for example. But Jesus warns us that our heart will be where our true treasure and measure of wealth lie. There is a lie trying to capture our hearts that “if we only had or were ______ then we would be satisfied.” If our measure of wealth or a good and successful life are shaped by anything other than the Word we will quickly find our hearts tied up in treasures other than Christ. Jesus told one man to sell all that he had, because Jesus could see that the man’s heart was in love with riches, and would not be fully his unless the man could let these things go (Matthew 19:16-26). The disciples were shocked at this statement, because the Israelite heritage and way of thinking was that wealth and honor accompanied the children of God. God promises us that he will supply our every need. God promises that as we obey and honor him first with our tithe that we will have more than enough. Pray that your life would be an extension of God’s; a territory that uses its resources to provide for those around you.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
