Matthew 5:3

5:3 “Blessed 1  are the poor in spirit, 2  for the kingdom of heaven belongs 3  to them.

Matthew 26:9

26:9 It 4  could have been sold at a high price and the money 5  given to the poor!”

Matthew 26:11

26:11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me! 6 

1 sn The term Blessed introduces the first of several beatitudes promising blessing to those whom God cares for. They serve as an invitation to come into the grace God offers.

2 sn The poor in spirit is a reference to the “pious poor” for whom God especially cares. See Ps 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69:29.

3 sn The present tense (belongs) here is significant. Jesus makes the kingdom and its blessings currently available. This phrase is unlike the others in the list with the possessive pronoun being emphasized.

4 tn Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

5 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied (as the proceeds from the sale of the perfumed oil).

6 tn In the Greek text of this clause, “me” is in emphatic position (the first word in the clause). To convey some impression of the emphasis, an exclamation point is used in the translation.