Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Have you ever heard something that sounded good, but you wondered what it really meant? Some poems and song lyrics are like that. I remember, years ago, hearing The Beatles’ tune Yellow Submarine and wondering what it was about. Was it just a silly song, or was there a deeper meaning? At the time, many thought it was code language for drugs. However, Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote it as a children’s song. It later inspired an animated motion picture.*
And what about Jesus? Did people hear him speak and puzzle over what he really meant? I’m sure they scratched their heads over many of his parables. Then there is the Sermon on the Mount. It is recognized by many people as the greatest sermon of all time. Its teachings on ethics and morality have been held up as an example, even by those who are not believers in Jesus.
Do you know how it begins? It is one of those intriguing passages. The first line as recorded in Matthew 5:3 is: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(NIV)
What did Jesus mean by this? Who were the poor in spirit? What was the kingdom of heaven? How is that a blessing? In fact, this is the only time Jesus used the phrase “poor in spirit.” This week on the podcast, we are going to explore what it means. I’ll talk with you again tomorrow!
*”Yellow Submarine (song)” Wikipedia, last updated May 27, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Submarine_(song)
Please provide feedback and suggestions at: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/feedback/
Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.