BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN
INTRODUCTION
A. (Mt.5:3-10) We are studying the Beatitudes. The power of Christ’s kingdom at work within our hearts.
B. Last week’s lesson focused on “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This lesson focuses on “Blessed are those who mourn.” Both Beatitudes are closely akin.
C. We will approach this passage by 1st observing what the world says about mourning. 2nd, we will see what Jesus means by “those who mourn,” & 3rd, we will consider some examples of “those who mourn” and were “blessed.”
I. WHAT THE WORLD SAYS
A. Much of what Jesus taught went against the grain, so to speak. His teaching about how a person can be happy or fortunate flies in the face of contemporary wisdom. The world says:
a. how can a person who mourns be happy?
b. most people don’t’ want to be around someone who mourns
c. sorrow & pain are to be avoided at all costs
d. pursue pleasure & entertainment – “laugh now”
B. (Lu.6:25b) Jesus’ words have been proven true time & time again.
C. Those who “laugh now” instead of “mourn,” will one day “mourn and weep” (Lu.16:24-26; Mt.25:46).
II. WHO ARE THOSE WHO MOURN & WHY ARE THEY BLESSED
A. (Mt.5:4) The Greek word translated “mourn” in our Bible is the strongest of all the Greek words used in the NT to express grief.
a. used in the LXX version to describe Jacob’s grief over the deception that Joseph was dead (Gen.37:34)
b. used to describe the disciples' grief as they “mourned & wept” over Jesus (Mr.16:10)
B. Since everyone will mourn the death of someone, the identity of “those who mourn” has to be describing something else in our text. It is referring to those who “mourn” over sins.
a. their own sins (Jas.4:8-10; 2Cor.7:10)
b. the sinfulness of the world & its rejection of Jesus (Mt.23:37; Rom.9:1-3)
C. “Those who mourn” are those who are also “poor in spirit.” They are blessed because they “shall be comforted.”
a. Jesus came to comfort “those who mourn” (Isa.61:1,2; Php.2:1)
b. Christians are recipients of “comfort” (Ac.3:19; 2Thess.2:16,17)
III. EXAMPLES OF “THOSE WHO MOURN”
A. Just as there are examples proving that those who “laugh now” shall mourn & weep, there are examples of “those who mourn” being comforted.
a. David (Psa.32:1-5)
b. the prostitute (Lu.7:48-50)
c. the prodigal son (Lu.15:20-24)
d. the thieve (Lu.23:40-43)
B. God comforts “those who mourn” by forgiving them of their sins & promising them He will one day carry them to His eternal home (1Thess.4:16-18).
CONCLUSION
(2Cor.1:3; Mt.5:4)