CORNELIS MONSMA

 
Purchase Information Explanation

 
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit
from the BEATITUDES series

Inspired by:
3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (Bible – New Testament)

Monsma’s Comments:  In His first statement Jesus goes straight to the core condition for entering/experiencing the kingdom of heaven: poverty - spiritual poverty. John the Baptist already pointed to this vital element as the law of increase and decrease; "He must increase, but I must decrease". (John 3:30)

Spiritual poverty is expressed here at the lower half of the painting as a dull-gray, non-pretentious color. It is meant to be the bowl, containing the vibrant color and life of the promised kingdom of heaven.

The recipient of this kingdom-promise is most likely a person who has worked through a freeing repentance experience, resulting in a new condition: a non pretentious spirit, an absence of self-importance - having loads of empty space available – ready to receive the blessing of a life of following Christ.