Poverty of spirit is a prerequisite to salvation and to victorious Christian living.

灵里的贫穷是通往得救以及得胜基督徒生命的先决条件。

In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells of two men who went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee boasted to God about his self- righteous efforts; the tax collector humbly acknowledged his sin. The Pharisee was proud and went away still in sin; the tax collector was poor in spirit and went away forgiven.

路加福音18：9-14，耶稣谈到两个人同上圣殿去祷告。一个是法利赛人，一个是税吏。法利赛人向神夸口他自以为义的努力付出；税吏谦卑地认知自己的罪。法利赛人骄傲地带着罪离开了；而税吏灵里谦卑贫穷，带着赦免离开。

The Greek word translated "poor" in Matthew 5:3 was used in classical Greek to refer to those reduced to cowering in dark corners of the city streets begging for handouts. Because they had no personal resources, they were totally dependent on the gifts of others. That same word is used in Luke 16:20 to describe Lazarus the poor man.

马太福音5：3中 “虚心（贫穷）”一词在希腊文中的经典用法是指那些沦落在城市街道的黑暗角落乞求施舍的人。因为他们没有个人资源，完全依靠仰仗他人的恩赐。同一个词在路加福音16：20，用来描述穷人拉撒路。

The spiritual parallel pictures those who know they are spiritually helpless and utterly destitute of any human resources that will commend them to God. They rely totally on God's grace for salvation, and they also rely on His grace for daily living. Jesus called them happy people because they are true believers and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

与此类似的属灵图画，就是那些知道自己灵里无助、且完全剥夺了属世资源的人，会将自己交托给神。他们全然倚靠神的恩典得救，他们也倚靠祂的恩典过每日的生活。耶稣称他们为幸福的人，因他们是真正的信徒，天国是他们的。

The word translated "theirs" in Matthew 5:3 is emphatic in the Greek text: the kingdom of heaven definitely belongs to those who are poor in spirit. They have its grace now and will fully enjoy its glory later (1 John 3:1-2). That's cause for great joy!

马太福音中“他们的”一词，在希腊原文中是加重语气：天国一定属于灵里贫穷的人。他们现在就拥有天国的恩典，并要日后充分享受它的荣耀（约翰一书3：1-2）。这就是大喜乐的缘由！

Isaiah 57:15 says, "Thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, 'I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" David added, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou will not despise" (Ps. 51:17).

以赛亚书57：15说：“因为那至高至上、永远长存名为圣者的如此说：‘我住在至高至圣的所在，也与心灵痛悔谦卑的人同居；要使谦卑人的灵苏醒，也使痛悔人的心苏醒。’”大卫又补充道：“神所要的祭就是忧伤的灵；神啊，忧伤痛悔的心，你必不轻看”（诗51：17）。

Like the humble tax collector, recognize your weaknesses and rely totally on God's resources. Then He will hear your prayers and minister to your needs. That's where happiness begins!

要像谦卑的税吏，认识自己的软弱，并全然倚靠神的供应。这样神必听你的祷告并供给你的需要。这正是幸福的开始！

• Thank God that when you come to Him in humility and contrition, He hears you and responds.

• Prayerfully guard your heart from the subtle influences of pride.

• 当你谦卑痛悔来到神的面前，祂就听你的祷告并给出回应，为此向神献上感谢！

• 警醒祷告使你的心远离骄傲的微妙影响。

Read the following verses, noting God's perspective on pride: Proverbs 6:16-17; 8:13; 11:2; 16:5; 18-19.

阅读以下章节，留意神对骄傲的看法：箴言6：16-17；8：13；11：2；16：5；18-19.