Greek Word Studies

Advanced Level

Lesson 7


Lesson Title:  Poor (Ptochos)

 

Text:  Matthew 5:3 ‘Blessed are the poor (‘ptochos’) in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

 

Introduction:   Meaning of ‘ptochos’ poor.

There are two Greek words used in the New Testament that are translated poor: ‘ptochos’ and ‘penes’.

 

Comparison between ‘ptochos’ and ‘Penes

Greek ‘ptochos’ means being totally without means.

ptochos’ refers to someone who is destitute.

Mark 12:42, ‘And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.’

 

Greek ‘penes’ means poor in the sense that a person has means but is always struggling to survive.

In 2 Corinthians 9:9 ‘(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.’)

A working man who labours to pay for food. 

 

The difference is this:

1)  ptochos’ reduces a man to the level of a beggar.

2)  penes’ is poverty in the sense of working hard merely to survive.

 

God’s provision for the poor in the Old Testament

Gleaning  (Ruth 2:2)

During the harvest time the law made provision for those who were destitute (‘ptochos’). 

The law gave them opportunity to survive by working (‘penes’).

 

The law provided for the widows and orphans, and also for the strangers who had no means of employment.

They were able to glean in the fields. 

Whatever fell to the ground during harvest time was to be left for the poor to pick up.

 

The law did not provide for the people simply by giving charity – this would give no incentive to work.

The law gave opportunity for people to work all day so they could gather enough to eat.

Gleaning did not bring prosperity, but gleaning provided a means of working to survive, ‘penes’.

God did not make it easy.

This was God’s social help.

 

 

Introductory Story:  The need for missions

In the Philippines poor people can often be seen walking in the middle of the busy road begging from the people in the cars.  But in some places a woman may be seen begging in the middle of the street with a young baby in her arms.  In this instance the woman is using the child for the purpose of begging.

The woman’s poverty is unquestionable but it is not good to give to her when she is using a young baby for this purpose.

Christians need to be involved in helping to lift people, but it must be done right to protect the poor.

This is why we need to support missions and organizations that will help the poor in the right way.

Feeding Program at Smokey Mountain

 

 

Main Points: 

1.  Provision for the poor in the New Testament.

Not everybody who is poor (ptochos) should be helped financially:

A person who is ‘ptochos’ because he will not work is regarded by Paul to be as in a state that he deserves 

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians  …if any would not work, neither should he eat.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.’

 (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)

This kind of person needs to be helped in finding suitable employment.

 

Christians should provide for their own families.

1 Timothy 5:8 ‘But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.’

It is a denial of our faith if we do not provide for our own families.

 

Even provision by the church for a widow over 60 is conditional.

Paul does not tell Timothy to help everyone in need.

He narrows it down to widows who are not likely to remarry and therefore be provided for by their new husband.

But also the widow must have a reputation for good works.

‘Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.’  (1 Timothy 5:10)

Provision by the church for poor widows is a gift of appreciation for a life lived in providing for others.

 

The Apostles in Jerusalem were concerned about the poor. 

When Paul came to see them in Jerusalem they asked him to remember to help the Christians living in poverty in Jerusalem.

‘And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.’ (Galatians 2:9-10)

Paul took an offering to them from Macedonia and Achaia.

Romans 15:26 ‘For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.’

 

‘Lifting others’ should be a way of life for the Christian but everyone has limited ability to give and so discretion and common sense must always be used.

Scripture says ‘the Lord loves a cheerful giver’ but cheerful does not mean being irresponsible.

There is an order of importance in giving:

1)  Care for our family needs.

2)  Ministering to the needs of the saints (includes the needs in financing the local church).

3)  Assisting the household of Faith (church members in need).

4)  Helping with our means to supply the needs of those spreading the gospel (missions).

5)  Using our finance as an expression of love in helping others in need.

It is usually only the fifth category that involves helping those who are destitute (‘ptochos’).

 

 

2.  Lifted from poverty to riches

Psalm 113:7-8  ‘He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill;  That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.’

 

The provision of gleaning that was provided by the law lifted a person from being destitute (‘ptochos’) to being able to survive (‘penes’).

There was another provision that was able to lift them much higher.

It was the provision of the kinsman redeemer

 

Illus:  Kinsman Redeemer  (Ruth 3-4)

A kinsman redeemer in the Hebrew language was called a ‘goel’.  The kinsman redeemer was the nearest male relative to the poor family.

Land was distributed in Israel among tribes and families. 

If the land was sold it could be redeemed at any time by a near kinsman.

If no kinsman redeemer (‘goel’) came, the land automatically returned to the original family on the year of jubilee, which took place every 50 years.

But if a person acted as kinsman redeemer, there was a duty he had to perform.

Purchasing the land also required the ‘goel’ to continue the line of inheritance of the dead relative.

This meant marrying and having children who would continue the line of succession for the dead relative.

 

In the book of Ruth, in order to receive the benefits of the kinsman redeemer Ruth gave herself to Boaz. 

There was a nearer kinsman than Boaz, but he was not willing to marry Ruth, so Boaz was able to act as the kinsman redeemer.

 

Ruth and her mother in law were lifted from ‘destitution’ to ‘ability to survive’ by the provision of the law.

They were lifted to ‘having more than enough’ through the favour of Boaz great wealth

They were lifted to the heights of great wealth through Ruth’s marriage with Boaz.

And Ruth’s name is listed as the mother of the Kings of the nation.

 

 

3.  Jesus came to preach the gospel to the spiritually poor.

Luke 4:18  ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor (‘ptochos’); he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,’

 

Those who are poor (‘ptochos’) spiritually, and know that they are poor, are blessed

Jesus said: 

Matthew 5:3 ‘Blessed are the poor (‘ptochos’) in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

Luke 6:20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor (‘ptochos’): for yours is the kingdom of God.’

 

Poor in spirit

The Greek word ‘ptochos’ is used meaning totally destitute.

A person who is not totally destitute will seek to work his or her way out of the situation.

A person who is destitute has no means of saving him or herself.

They need One who is their Kinsman Redeemer.

 

Story:  Woman who was a sinner  Luke 7:40-43

Jesus told the story of the two debtors – one owed 50 days wages, the other owed 500.  Both were bankrupt.

The one who owed the most would love the most.

Because their debt was so great they knew they could never pay it.

The one who owed less also could never pay but they did not realize they were in a hopeless situation.

 

Trusting Christ alone for salvation - Personal testimony of salvation - New life in Christ – Christ alone.

John Wesley’s testimony of salvation: Christ alone.

John Wesley (May 24, 1738)

 

‘In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street where one was reading Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans.

About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.   I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation ; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. 

I then testified openly to all there what I now felt in my heart.'

 

 

Laodicean Church – trusted in their own riches

They were spiritually bankrupt but thought they were rich.

Revelation 3:17-18, ‘Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.’

 

The ‘poor in spirit’ are blessed because the unsearchable riches of Christ are theirs.

They are like Ruth who exchanged her poverty for riches by being united with Boaz through the provision of the Kinsman redeemer.

 

Summary:

Those who are poor (‘ptochos’) are destitute and cannot save themselves.

  1. Provision is made for them in scripture but scripture never condones laziness.
  2. Christ came as our kinsman redeemer to lift us from spiritual poverty to union with Him.
  3. Those who spiritually poor are blessed because in ‘Christ alone’ we have eternal riches.

 

 

Back to Index