Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Aaron Beard

            After laying the foundation of the “Kingdom Principles” by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus builds upon this by saying, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). 

            What mourners is it that Jesus makes reference to here?  Jesus is not necessarily speaking of those who mourn the loss of loved ones upon their death.  Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting….” While there is much good reaped from the introspection caused by funerals, going to such would not necessarily change the way God views man.  Jesus must have something else in mind.  The people of whom Jesus is speaking are those whose hearts are torn asunder due to their grief over their own sins and the sins of others. 

            “Real men don’t cry.” This statement is a great summarization of how the world feels toward those who mourn.  It does not take one long to notice that our society has forgotten how horrendous sin is.  Magazine racks are filled with periodicals that have as their cover pictures women who are so scantily clothed that they are basically naked.  Whereas these magazines were once placed on the backs of the racks and covered up with more wholesome magazines, they have now been moved to the very front where everyone can see them.  Movie rental places now advertise their pornographic movies and those that might as well be deemed so.  Society has truly lost the hatred for sin and the ability to blush at it.  A faithful servant of the Lord is brought to tears and even enraged when he looks at the pitiful condition of our society.

            Why would one be brought to mourn over sin?  One who mourns over his sins or the sinful state of others does so because he realizes that sin separates one from God.  He knows that this separation comes not by the choice or action of God but because of man’s insistence upon rebelling against God’s word.  Isaiah 59:2 says, “…Your sins have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”  He also realizes the cost of sin.  Sin is what brought Jesus to this world and caused Him to have to die so that we might be reconciled to God (II Cor. 5:18-21).  Mourning is a natural result when one ponders upon the fact that sin separates man from his Heavenly Father and that is was because of this that Jesus had to die upon the cross.

            One who sorrows over sin is blessed because this mourning helps direct one back into a relationship with God.  Concerning this Paul says, “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner... For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!...” (II Cor. 7:9-11).  When one sorrows in a godly manner, he is driven seek the sin cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb. 

            Peter is a classic example who mourned with “godly sorrow.” After his third denial of Jesus, the cock crowed just as the Lord had said just a short time beforehand.  At this point “the Lord turned and looked at Peter” (Luke 22:61).  Peter then remembers the words of the Lord “and Peter went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62).  This sorrow led him to repentance.  Peter was among the twelve when they preached to the thousands gathered in Jerusalem on Pentecost.  It was Peter and John who stood firm in the face of the Jewish rulers, continuing to preach Jesus Christ even when commanded to cease (Acts 5:40-42). Jesus had foretold this by saying, “…and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32).

            If we are going to be “blessed” we must be a people who mourn over sin.  When we find ourselves engulfed in sin, the realization of the pain we put the Lord through and the condition of our own souls should cause us to “weep bitterly.” However, we cannot stop there.  We must seek, as Peter did, to be restored.  When we look at the pitiful state of our society it should also cause us great sorrow.  This will drive us to preach Jesus and live for Him.  We must not lose our disgust of sin and the ability to blush at it.