In this blessed Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, chapters 5-7, the Lord gave precious truths concerning kingdom life.  He begins this discourse by giving the keys to happiness for the believer in Matthew 5:3-11.  Each verse begins with “Blessed are…”  This word is translated as “happy” in other verses, such as in 1 Peter 4:14, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, HAPPY are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”  The Lord desires that His followers be happy, in spite of the perils, persecutions, and strife that can come from faithfully following Him.  We learn in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  Yet, in the face of this, believers on the Lord Jesus should be the happiest of all people for we know Him and have the joy of having Him in our everyday lives. 

Let’s look at the verse you inquired about.  In Matthew 5:3 the Lord says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”?  One translator puts this verse as, “How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs!”  In several translations, this thought is given…the poor in spirit refers to those who think nothing of themselves, who are humble in spirit.  Much is given to us about the blessings of the Lord towards those who are meek or humble.

• Psalm 10:17, “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.”
• Psalm 22:26, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” 
• Proverbs 3:34, “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” 

Surely there is happiness for the humble because they are not ‘self-possessed’ and concerned only about their own pleasures and prosperity.  There can be no lasting happiness for those people who only find joy in fulfilling their own selfish desires.  We learn in Proverbs 27:20, “Hell and destruction are never full; so THE EYES OF MAN ARE NEVER SATISFIED.”  For those who are intent on self-pleasure, there is no contentment, no fulfillment. 

The Lord Jesus said of Himself in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”  We see the blessings of being humble in 1 Peter 5:6-7 which tells us, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”  It is only when we humble ourselves that the Lord is able to pour His greatest blessings and exalt us when the time is right. 

We have the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18:3-4, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 

Although the topic before us is happiness, it may seem odd that we read these words in James 4:6-10, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”  It is truly when we see ourselves as the Lord sees us, when we mourn over the sinfulness in our lives and draw near to the Lord, that this empowers us to be humble in the face of God…and therein lies our happiness.  My dear reader, may the Lord give us all the desire to be happy in Him and find that happiness by humbling ourselves before Him so that He may bless us.  (CC)  (681.4)