Why do only the poor have the gospel preached to them?

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Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,849
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#21
It's a reference to Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”


..a fulfillment of a Messianic prophesy.
This (whether or not Jesus was the Messiah) was the central issue to John's inquiry.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
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#22
in essence yes, Jesus pand his disciples preached the good news of the kingdom of God and through his teachings, how for us to get there. the messiah was inviting or calling people to join him in the Kingdom of heaven. He mentionned that he would prepare a place for those who believe in him and do his father's will.

Blessings,

JF
The kingdom of heaven is an earthly kingdom of Israel where the rightful King will rule from the throne of David. The Jews rejected their Messiah. The cross was a mystery, hid from the beginning of the world.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,487
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#23
Nowhere does Jesus (or Isaiah) say that ONLY the poor have the good news preached to them.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#24
Nowhere does Jesus (or Isaiah) say that ONLY the poor have the good news preached to them.
Well since Mark 16:15,16 says that the Gospel must be preached "in all the world" and to "every creature" it means that no one is excluded from hearing the Gospel (which also tells us that Limited Atonement is false). However the emphasis on "the poor" (who are generally ignored or neglected) is to remind Christians that preaching the Gospel to the poor is very important in God's sight, and that the poor will be more receptive. Also the dregs of society were more receptive to Jesus of Nazareth, while the wealthy religious leaders despised Him.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,947
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#25
"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

Who are the poor mentioned here? If it refers to those who don't have much money or wealth, does that mean wealthy people don't have the gospel preached to them? It seems to say that the poor are the ones who have the gospel preached to them.
If, on the other hand, it means those who are poor spiritually, does that mean that the other traits mentioned (blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and dead) are spiritually meant? Blind spiritually, etc.
one must remember, the poor were said to be outcast sinners by the religious.

So to have the gospel preached to them in Christ day was not only a huge deal. it was a sin according to the pharisee
 

Komentaja

Active member
Jul 29, 2022
450
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#26
The poor are those who tend to be most receptive to the gospel. If I have to choose knocking on the doors in a trailer park, the projects, or an upper class neighborhood, I'll l start with the projects and the mobile homes. Far more will get saved. It's easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven...to paraphrase. However, it's the same message to all walks of life.
This one nailed it. Preaching the Gospel @ Billionaires' Row you would be largely wasting your time. The only gospel the rich people are interested in is the prosperity gospel.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,288
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#27
This one nailed it. Preaching the Gospel @ Billionaires' Row you would be largely wasting your time. The only gospel the rich people are interested in is the prosperity gospel.
I agree and that's why I was shocked to see that the Babylon Bee interviewed Elon Musk and came this // close to leading him to Christ. However, they rushed him into a prayer before teaching him the issues of salvation.

The wealthy tend to trust in their riches and that becomes a curse to them. It's hard to trust Christ when a man thinks he has need of nothing. I think we should share the good news with them, but try to focus on the others first. There are American churches that travel to various parts of the world to share the gospel to communities, schools, gt agencies and anywhere they are welcome to preach. That video I posted on the last page is a class in Guyana S.A. Seeing those children get saved is what it's about.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,288
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#28
This one nailed it. Preaching the Gospel @ Billionaires' Row you would be largely wasting your time. The only gospel the rich people are interested in is the prosperity gospel.
Oops sorry! I checked and made a mistake. That was an Arizona state college class.
This is the one that I thought was it.

 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
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#29
The poor here means two ways:
1.Really poor.
2.poor with knowledge of God.
 

birdie

Senior Member
Sep 16, 2014
532
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#30
The Spiritually poor which we all are -----until we receive Jesus in our hearts ------then we are Spiritually rich -----we are all born spiritually poor ------that is ---we are away from God -Spiritually ----
Thanks, that's my take on it as well. I think that the spiritual interpretation is valid for the other traits mentioned as well: blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and dead. I think people have thought of these as only physical healings, but are pointing to spiritual healings foremost.
 
Aug 22, 2022
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#32
Jesus says “blessed are the poor in spirit because theirs is the kingdom of God”. Only they are ready for the message and willing to receive his message
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
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#33
In my country every body love the rich and hate the poor, my people do discrimination
So I believe this statement is to say no discrimination
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,487
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#34
Have you read Matthew 11:5?
Many times. The word "only" is not there.

May I suggest you try a more respectful phraseology next time; almost all of the senior members on this site have been reading Scripture for years, if not decades, and have likely read all of Scripture several times at least.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#35
The poor are those who tend to be most receptive to the gospel. If I have to choose knocking on the doors in a trailer park, the projects, or an upper class neighborhood, I'll l start with the projects and the mobile homes. Far more will get saved. It's easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven...to paraphrase. However, it's the same message to all walks of life.


What am I missing here? Mt.19:25 goes on to say "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?" I guess they were pretty good at misunderstanding. That's the way I still am at times.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#36
I have heard that it is easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle if you grease the camel first ;):giggle:
What am I missing here? Mt.19:25 goes on to say "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?" I guess they were pretty good at misunderstanding. That's the way I still am at times.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#37
PS Mt. 19:25 and then 19:26 Any one else but Jesus would probably have said something like what's up guys, are you that stupid, lets' get with the program. Maybe? Although it says he gave them a certain look. I fall back to Psalm1:1 "...nor sitteth in the scorners' seat."
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
1,603
804
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#38
"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

Who are the poor mentioned here? If it refers to those who don't have much money or wealth, does that mean wealthy people don't have the gospel preached to them? It seems to say that the poor are the ones who have the gospel preached to them.
If, on the other hand, it means those who are poor spiritually, does that mean that the other traits mentioned (blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and dead) are spiritually meant? Blind spiritually, etc.
PSST!!! My Bible has more that one verse in it. SO does yours, I expect. SO why are you trying to make a whole theology out of JUST ONE VERSE??? Add Mark 16:15, and your "Problem" goes away.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,254
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#39
Many times. The word "only" is not there.

May I suggest you try a more respectful phraseology next time; almost all of the senior members on this site have been reading Scripture for years, if not decades, and have likely read all of Scripture several times at least.
My sincere apologies.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,156
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#40
"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

Who are the poor mentioned here? If it refers to those who don't have much money or wealth, does that mean wealthy people don't have the gospel preached to them? It seems to say that the poor are the ones who have the gospel preached to them.
If, on the other hand, it means those who are poor spiritually, does that mean that the other traits mentioned (blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and dead) are spiritually meant? Blind spiritually, etc.
of we are well Off in this world we find a strong embrace have more friends people want to be around you more will accept you quickly

when you live day to day not knowing where the next meal is coming from , your looking for Hope

The poor are often broken and contrite and willing to acknolwedge thier failures that led them There when confronted with truth

just tangibly in my life I’ve noticed those in need whether financially , emotionally , spiritually , health wise ect our weaknesses and trials our struggles is where it’s easiest to meet God with an accepting heart

if everything goes our way and life is always really smooth and easy if we’re rich in everything money , property , friends , ect it’s much more difficult to accept many things Jesus says like we’re supposed to share generously with the poor this was an issue

What I mean is when you have a lot it’s so easy to trust in it if you don’t it’s not an issue a rich man speaks to Jesus

“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words.( Christian’s are still astonished at that )

But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:21-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

money is the most apparent false God in the world it is able to steal peoples trust and dedication we depend on the size of our bank account to feel we’ve secured our future but really it’s hindering our future

now it’s not evil because we work hard and make money please inderstand , and this is not a command for anyone who has enough money to suddenly go sell everything and give it away and live homeless with our kids or anything

it’s Jesus teaching us how very very important it is to not let the love of money , or any form of greed , steal our inheritance in him

we have billions and billions ahead worth more than all that exists and we don’t want to worship money in this short life because it also can deceive us into false security and it also inherantly speaks a greedy word the more you have the more you need you need to store up because the future is unknown

often we come to the conclusion when seeing a needy person “ they need to get a job I work hard for My money it’s just for me and mine “

at the point we care more about money than people with needs we can help
Meet we need to repent