To Whom Does the Kingdom Belong To?

Is the Kingdom of Heaven open to everybody? Can anyone enter into it?

If it is by faith, must there be anything else?

Jesus answers this question for us. He says in the first beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To be poor in spirit means to recognize your spiritual bankruptcy before God. It means that you have come to an understanding that you are a sinner, and have nothing to offer to a holy God to become righteous or receive mercy. You have realized your utter dependance on God to ever be saved. You have come to your wits end. And it is at this moment, with this heart posture, Jesus pronounces you are blessed.

The word blessed in Hebrew means happy. Happy are you when you are emptied of self and dependent on the mercy of God. Happy are you when you realize you are truly bankrupt before God. Why? Why would that realization of depravity pronounce a blessedness over someone?

Jesus says for (meaning here's why you are blessed) theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Notice that; the Kingdom of Heaven is presently available and possessive for anyone poor in spirit. No wonder brokenness results in blessedness! It is not until we are broken before God that we can be blessed by God, because unless we are broken and see the need of a Savior, we won't come to Jesus.

This beatitude is good news because Jesus offers the kingdom to those who see their spiritual bankruptcy. Therefore, happy are those who are broken before God, for theirs is (present tense and future) the kingdom! And for them only.

May the Lord continue to help us see our desperate need for Him.

~ Pastor Alexander