Last week in our study of the beatitudes (Matthew 4:25 to 5:11) we saw in Matthew 4:23 to 5:1a why the large crowds were following Jesus. As Jesus began to teach His disciples and the large crowd, the first point Jesus makes which begins His teaching is verse three, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
We learned that “Blessed” means “happy” or “fortunate” or “Spiritually prosperous”, and how being “poor in spirit” applies to us as Christians. Being “poor in spirit” is a humble understanding and attitude about ourselves concerning where we stand with God. A very good interpretation of the Greek meaning is, it has the implication of an “economic component”, which means we understand that we are spiritually bankrupt without God. This meaning and application of “poor in spirit” ties right into the next point in verse four.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 4:4
Understanding the meaning of “Blessed” given in the previous paragraph, one would think that verse four is a contradiction. How can a person be blessed or “happy” or “fortunate” or “Spiritually prosperous” if you are mourning? What does Jesus mean that we are “fortunate” or “Spiritually prosperous” while at the same time we “mourn”?
Looking at various Bible commentaries and study Bibles, the common interpretation is that the person Jesus is referring to is someone who has a clear understanding of their spiritual state. Not only do they realize that they are “spiritually bankrupt” or “poor in spirit” but they also realize their spiritual state or standing before God concerning sin. The following are some examples.
- Spirit Filled Life Study Bible – “Those who mourn are not necessarily people in bereavement, but those who experience the sorrow of repentance.”
- Faithlife Study Bible – “…it could refer to those who mourn over their personal sin or are currently enduring difficult times.”
- The Bible Exposition Commentary – “We mourn over sin in our lives and despise it…”
Another way to understand what Jesus is telling us in this verse is from our own experience with our relationship with God. It is similar when we sin and come to God in repentance asking Him to forgive us of our sins. Hayford’s Bible Handbook says that; “Repentance is a feeling of remorse or regret for past conduct…”, and “…a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.”
The following portion of the parable below best demonstrates what Jesus meant to about “those who mourn” in repentance concerning their sin.
Luke 18:13
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
Being repentant many times can also be the same thing and or include being contrite. The following verses demonstrates the importance of the attitude of being contrite we should have, which is an important aspect of mourning when we come before God asking forgiveness of our sins.
Psalms 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Isaiah 57:15
For this is what the high and lofty One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
When Jesus refers to “those who mourn”, He did not say what they are mourning about. However, understanding that to mourn can include being repentant and contrite about our sin. In Psalms 32:1-5 is a great example of a person who was feeling and experiencing the consequences of the weight of sin in their lives. But we also see the comfort and how blessed they are because of being forgiven.
Psalms 32:1-5
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” — and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
The promise of experiencing comfort from God when we “mourn” because we are experiencing trouble is expounded in the two following verses. The first verse is in Psalms 34:17-20. Please note the six things that God does for us that comforts us when we are in a situation that causes us to mourn. The Lord “hears” us. The Lord “delivers” us. The Lord is “close” to us and “saves” us. The Lord “delivers” and “protects” us.
Psalms 34:17-20
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
The second verse that is a promise of God’s comfort which we can stand on when we are in a situation that causes to mourn is 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. It is important to note that the “compassion” and “comfort” we need during these moments which we receive from God should not be our primary focus even though we might feel that we need really need it. We should always remember that God does and or gives to us what we need because of who He is, which is clearly stated in this verse. “…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Now with this understanding can we look back in our relationship with Jesus and recognize how we were blessed when we were in a personal situation that causes us to mourn. When we learn from these situations God then can use us to help others who might be feeling the weight of sin who needs to repent. Also, we will be able to be used by Him to help those who just are experiencing difficult situations that is causing them grief and sorrow.
Pastor John
