<p>5:3- see on 5:43.</p>
<p><em>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven-&nbsp;</em>Our prayers should be like those of a man on death row in a dark dungeon, waiting to die, but groaning for salvation (Ps. 102:17,20). This is the extent of our desperation. We are &ldquo;the poor&rdquo; (Gk. &lsquo;the crouchers&rsquo;), cringing in utter spiritual destitution (Mt. 5:3). And yet we have a terrible tendency to only occasionally&nbsp;<em>really</em>&nbsp;pray, content with prayer on a surface level. The Lord's parables invite us to see ourselves as, e.g., the desperate widow woman pleading for deliverance from her oppressive landlord (Lk. 18:3).</p>