“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

In Luke 6, Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.” He promises that the poor will inherit something far greater than any of the riches of this world. He goes on to say that those who suffer now will not suffer in the kingdom (Luke 6:21–22).

This is a message that Jesus communicates again in his parable about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31). In both of these texts, Jesus indicates that the values of the world will be turned upside down in his kingdom.

Indeed, the word “blessed” refers to those who are “happy” or “fortunate” in God’s sight. Some measure of economic poverty, not necessarily destitution, was a familiar reality for most people in Galilee at the time. The lack of material resources would typically lead the poor to greater reliance on God. Their closer relationship with God is what makes them blessed. True happiness does not come from possessing the kingdoms offered by the devil (4:5–6) but from the kingdom of God, which Jesus says is theirs at the present time. In particular, this kingdom belongs to disciples like Peter, James, John, and Levi, who leave “everything” (5:11, 28)—that is, who voluntarily become poor—in order to follow Jesus.

This beatitude is better understood by considering its opposite: woe to you who are rich. A “woe” is a warning of coming judgment. The one who finds consolation now in earthly riches typically does not rely on God. Thus, it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom (Luke 18:24–25), though with God it is possible (Luke 18:27; 19:2, 9). For example, among the early Christians, those with wealth came to the aid of those in need (Acts 2:45; 4:34–35).

Who can I help today?