And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus looks directly at his disciples, not just speaking generally, but to them, implying a personal, intimate connection and a kingdom that belongs to those who follow Him, even in their present state of need. The emphasis is on the present reality of the kingdom belonging to them now, not just a future reward.
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, after spending a night in prayer, descends a mountain and addresses his disciples, a select group who would become the foundation of his church. He looks directly at them and begins to pronounce a series of blessings and woes, contrasting worldly values with the divine perspective of his kingdom. This teaching is set against the backdrop of his ongoing ministry, where he is choosing apostles and healing crowds, all while navigating the spiritual and political expectations of the time.
Jesus kicks off his teaching here with a surprising statement. Who does he call 'blessed' and why?
In Luke's account, Jesus directly addresses his disciples, those who have chosen to follow him. He declares them 'blessed' not because of their worldly status or possessions, but because they embody a poverty that opens them to God's reign. This isn't just about lacking money; it's about a spiritual posture of dependence on God.
When Jesus talks about 'the kingdom of God,' what kind of kingdom is he actually talking about?
The 'kingdom of God' is a central theme for Jesus, but it's often misunderstood. It's not a political empire or a geographical territory that replaces earthly nations. Instead, Jesus describes it as:
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This kingdom is contrasted with the kingdoms of this world, which rely on force and outward appearances. God's kingdom advances through truth and love, transforming individuals from the inside out.
Understand the original words
makarios · Greek Adjective
A state of spiritual favor and divine joy that is independent of worldly circumstances. It characterizes those who live in a right relationship with God, often contrasting with worldly expectations.
ptōchos · Greek Adjective
Refers to those who lack material resources, but biblically emphasizes those who recognize their total spiritual need and dependence upon God. The 'poor in spirit' are those who have abandoned self-reliance to trust solely in the Lord.
basileia tou Theou · Greek Noun phrase
The sovereign rule, reign, and authority of God over His creation and His people. It is both a present spiritual reality in the lives of believers and a future, perfected state when God’s kingdom will be fully established.
The "kingdom of God" was a concept deeply rooted in Jewish hopes for a restored nation. Jesus, by addressing the poor, subverted expectations of worldly power and wealth, re-framing the kingdom as a spiritual reality centered on humility and faith, a concept that would expand beyond national boundaries after Pentecost.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples around him.
c. 28 AD
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
After a night of prayer, Jesus designates and commissions the twelve apostles to be with him and to spread his message.
c. 28 AD— this verse
Jesus Delivers the Sermon on the Plain
Jesus gathers a large crowd and his disciples on a plain near the Sea of Galilee and delivers a significant teaching discourse.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem and then rises from the dead, marking a pivotal moment for his followers.
c. 30 AD
The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)
The Holy Spirit empowers Jesus' followers, enabling them to boldly proclaim the Gospel and understand its spiritual implications.
This passage presents the parallel beatitude from Matthew's Gospel, which adds the crucial phrase 'in spirit,' highlighting that true poverty in God's eyes is a spiritual condition, not just material.
James 2:5James directly quotes or alludes to this beatitude, emphasizing that God chooses the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, linking material poverty with spiritual richness in God's economy.
Isaiah 66:2This Old Testament prophecy speaks of God looking favorably upon those who are 'poor and of a contrite spirit,' foreshadowing Jesus' declaration and showing that a humble heart has always been valued by God.
Luke 1:53This verse, part of the Magnificat, echoes the theme of God filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, aligning with Jesus' blessing on the poor and hungry and His pronouncements of woe on the rich and full.
barnesLuke 6:20: "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God."
See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matthew 5-7 .
jfbLuke 6:20: "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God."
20, 21. In the Sermon on the Mount the benediction is pronounced upon the "poor in spirit" and those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Mt 5:3, 6). Here it is simply on the "poor" and the "hungry now." In this form of the discourse, then, our Lord seems to have had in view "the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to the…
Jesus looks directly at his disciples, not just speaking generally, but to them, implying a personal, intimate connection and a kingdom that belongs to those who follow Him, even in their present state of need. The emphasis is on the present reality of the kingdom belonging to them now, not just a future reward.
Jesus, after spending a night in prayer, descends a mountain and addresses his disciples, a select group who would become the foundation of his church. He looks directly at them and begins to pronounce a series of blessings and woes, contrasting worldly values with the divine perspective of his kingdom. This teaching is set against the backdrop of his ongoing ministry, where he is choosing apostles and healing crowds, all while navigating the spiritual and political expectations of the time.
Jesus, after spending a night in prayer, descends a mountain and addresses his disciples, a select group who would become the foundation of his church. He looks directly at them and begins to pronounce a series of blessings and woes, contrasting worldly values with the divine perspective of his kingdom. This teaching is set against the backdrop of his ongoing ministry, where he is choosing apostles and healing crowds, all while navigating the spiritual and political expectations of the time.
"And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." — Jesus looks directly at his disciples, not just speaking generally, but to them, implying a personal, intimate connection and a kingdom that belongs to those who follow Him, even in their present s…
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Last reviewed October 2026