Comments on: 1. the poor http://wecan.be The Beatitudes In Practice, with attitude : we can be the change Wed, 09 May 2012 12:22:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RobertPeters http://wecan.be/beattitudes/thepoor/comment-page-1/#comment-9488 RobertPeters Fri, 24 Dec 2010 06:56:32 +0000 http://wecan.be/the-be-attitudes-for-todays-world/1-blessed-are-‘the-poor’-–-and-all-those-who-are-with-them-‘in-spirit’/#comment-9488 Consider the possibility that The Matthew and Luke versions of the "poor" passage can be rectified in two ways: One way, the dative use of "in spirit/to pneumati" could reference back to Makarioi/Fortunate as the locus of their good fortune(locative use of the dative). The Poor are fortunate in spirit, or Fortunate are the poor - in spirit. We might clarify this by juxtaposing a statement like "Fortunate are the rich in substance, for theirs is the kingdom of earth!" A second way, still referencing "spirit" as the locus of their good fortune, rather than understanding it solely as "spiritual poverty" or "humility"(as most do), regard their good fortune instead to be in the fact that their "spirit" is more open to possessing the Kingdom of Heaven because they are in fact materially poor. This view still allows the verse in Matthew to be addressing the materially poor while at the same time suggests an attitude (due to poverty) that makes one more receptive to God's Kingdom. In addition, regardless of which of these one may side with,the gentive "oti autov" can be translated "because of you" or "for you" "is the Kingdom of heaven." That is to say, just as Jesus said God is Spirit (and those who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth), so too he said his Kingdom is not of this earth. The good fortune of the poor is the message that God's Kingdom is about to become a reality for them in the person of Jesus whose community purse (overseen by Judas)was opened to the poor, and the disciples of the first church who cast everything into a common fund to assist the poor. One or both of these views not only squares with the many NT texts which encourage the materially poor, but also castigates and warns the materially rich. The teachings of Jesus took a radical departure from the prevailing view about money, possessions,status and power. In Jesus' person and teachings, and to the extent that his disciples embody Christ and obey him, the needs of the poor will be addressed. Jesus responded to unbelief in the Kingdom: "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." Lk. 11:20 Perhaps we might say also: "But if we with the finger of God provide for the poor, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon us." Consider the possibility that The Matthew and Luke versions of the “poor” passage can be rectified in two ways:

One way, the dative use of “in spirit/to pneumati” could reference back to Makarioi/Fortunate as the locus of their good fortune(locative use of the dative). The Poor are fortunate in spirit, or Fortunate are the poor – in spirit. We might clarify this by juxtaposing a statement like “Fortunate are the rich in substance, for theirs is the kingdom of earth!”

A second way, still referencing “spirit” as the locus of their good fortune, rather than understanding it solely as “spiritual poverty” or “humility”(as most do), regard their good fortune instead to be in the fact that their “spirit” is more open to possessing the Kingdom of Heaven because they are in fact materially poor. This view still allows the verse in Matthew to be addressing the materially poor while at the same time suggests an attitude (due to poverty) that makes one more receptive to God’s Kingdom.

In addition, regardless of which of these one may side with,the gentive “oti autov” can be translated “because of you” or “for you” “is the Kingdom of heaven.” That is to say, just as Jesus said God is Spirit (and those who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth), so too he said his Kingdom is not of this earth. The good fortune of the poor is the message that God’s Kingdom is about to become a reality for them in the person of Jesus whose community purse (overseen by Judas)was opened to the poor, and the disciples of the first church who cast everything into a common fund to assist the poor.

One or both of these views not only squares with the many NT texts which encourage the materially poor, but also castigates and warns the materially rich. The teachings of Jesus took a radical departure from the prevailing view about money, possessions,status and power.

In Jesus’ person and teachings, and to the extent that his disciples embody Christ and obey him, the needs of the poor will be addressed.

Jesus responded to unbelief in the Kingdom: “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” Lk. 11:20

Perhaps we might say also:

“But if we with the finger of God provide for the poor, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon us.”

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