Who is meant by “the poor in the spirit... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

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

Who is meant by "the poor in the spirit" who are spoken of here? Are they people with limited intellectual ability, the so-called "mentally handicapped"? Not at all! They are people who do not seek answers to the great questions of life in themselves, but have recognised that God alone can give the answers.
The measure of mental ability is thus not decisive. A great scholar and profound thinker, who remains humble before God is more likely to belong to this category than a less able mind whose few orderly thoughts of God of his own devising mean more to him than the Word of God.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified," even though he was to write shortly after, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have into the heart of men the things which God has prepared for those who love him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:2,9,10).
Paul knew far more than most, but he did not approach people trusting in his knowledge. He wished to draw attention exclusively to Jesus Christ. The fact that the man Paul made nothing of himself enabled God to work mightily in the apostle Paul.
Let us not be affected by scoffers who think they need to smile sympathetically over the "poor" who are wise enough to know that they are nothing in themselves. Of such scoffers can be said: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
Today's reading: Acts 23:17-35