Understanding the Term 'Poor' in the Gospel of Luke

Keyword studies are an important part of scriptural interpretation. They help readers to more fully understand the context of the Hebrew and Greek words used. Knowing the meanings of these words is vital since English translations cannot describe in the depth needed to understand some passages. An example of this can be found in the word “poor.” Merriam-Webster describes poor as “lacking material possessions.” Jesus says, “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22–23 NASB). Does this definition mean that those who lack material things will go to heaven and those who are wealthy are headed to hell? The short answer is, no. However, this difference needs to be understood if the passage is to be interpreted properly. Understanding how this term is used in Scripture is a task that must be accomplished if an accurate interpretation of passages like the above is to be understood.

In the simplest sense, the term poor means “to crouch, cower like a beggar” it can also mean “those who recognize their spiritual brokenness” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 1253). The second definition is when the word is used in the figurative sense. These meanings seem to have a similar definition to the word poor in today’s context. However, “a good word study will evaluate many contexts to determine the range of meanings and/or overlapping meanings available to the writer/ speaker during a specific time period. This is the function of a dictionary. A good interpreter then takes the available range of meanings for a word and applies this to the context to get the proper specific meaning of the word in that context” (Cara). If readers are to understand the meaning of this term from the Gospel of Luke, then they must look at the theological and contextual aspects of how this term is used.

One must understand the way God is described in a passage to know how the term poor should be defined in a theological sense. Theologically, the term poor can be understood as it is used at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Luke 4:17–19 says:

And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

In this context, God is a God Who has sent the Messiah to bring salvation and liberation to those who are physically and spiritually oppressed “(that is, to announce the coming of economic justice in the messianic age)” (Gundry 239). Jesus came to free those who are captives in the world and to bring about a year of Jubilee.

While the context of Luke still holds to a physical definition of the term poor, he does not neglect its spiritual fulfillment. Luke 6:20 says, “[a]nd turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Jesus promises that the poor and unfortunate will have the world “deeded to them. They have yet to possess it, but they already own it” (Gundry 250). Those who face oppression now can be blessed through the salvation Jesus brings. They are also physically liberated when Jesus returns because those who were poor in spirit and possession (and accepted Jesus’ salvation) will rule in dominion over those who were the oppressors. It seems best to state that this term has a physical (and partially spiritual) definition, however, its spiritual fulfillment is the most significant. When believers understand this, they can recognize that they are called to a life of suffering for and with Christ.

Works Cited

Cara, Robert. “Word Study Fallacies.” LigonierMinistries, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/word-study-fallacies/?utm_source=MP&utm_medium=DigitalTT&utm_campaign=January2014. Accessed 3 May 2021.

Gundry, Robert H. Commentary on the New Testament: Verse-by-Verse Explanations with a Literal Translation. Hendrickson Publishers, 2010.

NASB. New American Standard Version. The Holy Bible. Lockman, 2013.

“Poor.” Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poor. Accessed 3 May 2021.

The Complete Word Study: New Testament. AMG Publishers, 1992.

This article was originally written for Assignment 7-1 of The New Testament and Theology taught by Professor Joel Jupp (Moody Distance Learning)