Sermon on the Mount... series..Blessed are Those Who Mourn....

The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch

The Beatitudes

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

 

On the surface this beatitude looks as if Jesus is simply saying that those that are sad will be comforted, but there is so much more to this verse than that.

 

This verse takes us to a deeper spiritual level, that the cause of this mourning is sin.

 

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." 

John 12:32

 

(posted in red because these are the words of Jesus)

 

As we are drawn to Jesus and into a personal relationship with Him- we will more clearly see our sinful condition.

 

"Such mourning "shall be comforted." God reveals to us our guilt that we may flee to Christ, and through Him be set free from the bondage of sin, and rejoice in the liberty of the sons of God. In true contrition we may come to the foot of the cross, and there leave our burdens."

Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings pg. 10

 

 "The trials of life are God's workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. Their hewing, squaring, and chiseling, their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process; it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple. Upon no useless material does the Master bestow such careful, thorough work. Only His precious stones are polished after the similitude of a palace."

Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings pg. 10  

 

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"   

Lamentations 3:22-24

 

 To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."   

Isaiah 61:2b-3