Luke 6:20

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, etc.] Either the whole company of them, or rather the twelve apostles, whom he saw coming to him, and fixing his eyes on them, he sat, and said; what follows, with many other things recorded by Matthew: blessed be ye poor; not only in the things of this world, having left all for Christ, but poor in Spirit, as in (<400503>Matthew 5:3), (See Gill on “<400503>Matthew 5:3”): for yours is the kingdom of God; or heaven, so in (<400503>Matthew 5:3).”

“In the Sermon on the Mount the benediction is pronounced upon the "poor in spirit" and those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Mat 5:3, Mat 5:6). Here it is simply on the "poor" and the "hungry now." In this form of the discourse, then, our Lord seems to have had in view "the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love Him," as these very beatitudes are paraphrased by James (Jam 2:5).”

“See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matt. 5–7. Luke 6:21 That hunger now - Matthew has it, “that hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew has expressed more fully what Luke has briefly, but there is no contradiction. Luke 6:24-26 These verses have been omitted by Matthew. They seem to have been spoken to the Pharisees. Who are rich - In this world’s goods. They loved them; they had sought for them; they found their consolation in them. It implies, farther, that they would not seek or receive consolation from the gospel. They were proud, and would not seek it; satisfied, and did not desire it; filled with cares, and had no time or disposition to attend to…”

“In the following verses our Lord, in the audience of his newly - chosen disciples, and of the multitude, repeats, standing on the plain, many remarkable passages of the sermon he had before delivered, sitting on the mount. He here again pronounces the poor and the hungry, the mourners, and the persecuted, happy; and represents as miserable those who are rich, and full, and joyous, and applauded: because generally prosperity is a sweet poison, and affliction a healing, though bitter medicine. Let the thought reconcile us to adversity, and awaken our caution when the world smiles upon us; when a plentiful table is spread before us, and our cup is running over; when our spirits are gay; and we…”

“6:20-23 God blesses those who acknowledge their inadequacy and weakness and turn to God for strength. The value system of God’s Kingdom is radically different from the world’s value system, in which power and strength represent success. 6:20-21 poor . . . hungry: Cp. Matt 5:3, 6. This statement likely included physical and spiritual poverty. Poverty and suffering tend to make us more dependent on God. The Old Testament includes many promises that God will feed and comfort his people (Pss 22:26; 107:36-41; 126:1-6; Isa 49:10-13; 51:3; 65:13).”

“he lifted: Mat 5:2-12, Mat 12:49, Mat 12:50; Mar 3:34, Mar 3:35 Blessed: Luk 6:24, Luk 4:18, Luk 16:25; Sa1 2:8; Psa 37:16, Psa 113:7, Psa 113:8; Pro 16:19, Pro 19:1; Isa 29:19; Isa 57:15, Isa 57:16, Isa 66:2; Zep 3:12; Zac 11:11; Mat 11:5; Joh 7:48, Joh 7:49; Co1 1:26-29; Co2 6:10, Co2 8:2, Co2 8:9; Th1 1:6; Jam 1:9, Jam 1:10, Jam 2:5; Rev 2:9 for: Luk 12:32, Luk 13:28, Luk 14:15; Mat 5:3, Mat 5:10; Act 14:22; Co1 3:21-23; Th2 1:5; Jam 1:12 Luke 6:21”