"What, then, does He say? "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We read in Scripture concerning the striving after temporal things, "All is vanity and presumption of spirit"; but presumption of spirit means audacity and pride: usually also the proud are said to have great spirits; and rightly, inasmuch as the wind also is called spirit. And hence it is written, "Fire, hail, snow, ice, spirit of tempest." But, indeed, who does not know that the proud are spoken of as puffed up, as if swelled out with wind? And hence also that expression of the apostle, "Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies". And the poor in spirit are rightly understood here, as meaning the humble and God-fearing, i.e. those who have not the spirit which puffs up. Nor ought blessedness to begin at any other point whatever, if indeed it is to attain unto the highest wisdom; "but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"; for, on the other hand also, "pride" is entitled "the beginning of all sin." Let the proud, therefore, seek after and love the kingdoms of the earth; but "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.""
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Augustine of Hippo, in On the Sermon on the Mount, as translated by William Findlay (1888), Book I, Ch. 1
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Sermon on the Mount
24 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Sermon on the Mount →
Related Quotes
"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath b…"
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which i…"
"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may…"
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete,…"
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under the…"
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that a…"
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many the…"
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know…"
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of m…"
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be c…"