THE BEATITUDES
(Blessed are those who mourn - July 10, 2022)
Series Big Idea: "People in God's Kingdom will be known by several characteristics"
Sermon Big Idea: "Mourning over sin brings joy and peace to our soul"
Key Scripture (Matthew 5:1-12)
If you are a born-again regenerated believer in Jesus Christ, you have literally been torn from Satan’s grasp and have been firmly planted in a relationship with God the Father through Christ the King. It is a relationship that is alive and active. Christians are those who are freely submitting themselves to King Jesus.
In this second week of our sermon series focusing on what we call the Beatitudes, we will continue unpacking what Jesus said in the introduction (first twelve verses) of His famous Sermon on the Mount. Today our focus will be primarily on verse four.
(Matthew 5:1-12)
When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying: 3 “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. 5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. 7 The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. 8 The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. 9 The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Beatitudes describe the characteristics of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, in these verses Jesus is laying a foundation for the remainder of the Sermon on the Mount. We learned last week from the first couple of verses that Jesus said the first value of living in this new Kingdom is someone who not only recognizes they need God but admit they are nothing without Him.
Jesus said in verse four that “those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted.” But what did Jesus mean by this statement? Most people would agree that mourners don’t exactly seem like fortunate people. We see them as people that need to be pitied and helped. But just the opposite is true. Jesus said they are blessed. How do we understand what exactly Jesus meant here? Let’s look at two important words from this text to get a better understanding.
1. Those who Mourn are blessed
To mourn means to have a broken heart. According to most sources, this is the strongest word that Matthew could have used to make his point. Think of it as the deep sense of mourning and wailing that happens when we experience loss in our lives. Especially the loss of a dear loved one. I'm sure you would agree, we feel desperate and helpless. But the word Matthew used here is not just a sorrow of loss, it is a sorrow over sin. It's sorrow over our own personal sin and sorrow over sin in the world. It is a broken heart over evil and suffering in this world. It is the kind of brokenness that when we see Jesus on the cross, we realize it was our sin that put him there (James 4:9) “Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow.” But there is a second part to this verse and a second word we need to examine.
2. They will be Comforted
This is a promise from Jesus. He says if we truly mourn over our sin and the world's sin we will be comforted. This means He will comfort us in the here and now. But how does He do that? He does this with a settled peace. It's a sense of deep relief from within our very souls (John 14:27). Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. His comfort will also come to us within the assurance of forgiveness and assurance by God the Father (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Comfort also comes with a fullness of joy. This is a sense of God's very presence. A sense of his care and guidance. A sense of his sovereignty. A sense of his working all things out for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. But he is not just going to comfort us here and now but for eternity. He is passing us from death into life (John 5:24) I assure you: anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. Finally, He says one day He will wipe away all our tears (Revelation 7:17) For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Conclusion:
Be aware there are some things that will hinder you from acknowledging and recognizing your sin. There is the despair of believing God can’t forgive you for some specific sin in your life. There is also conceit, presumption, and procrastination. The remedy for this is to keep looking to the cross of Christ and what He has done, stay in God’s word, and remain on your knees praying for a repentant heart.
So, are you sensitive to sin, or do you laugh at sin and just let it pass by? Once Jesus went up on a mountain and looked down on the city of Jerusalem and said (Matthew 23:37) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” “She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!”
Do you weep for sin like that? Is your heart broken when God’s heart is broken? Do you have a sense of God’s forgiveness? Do you know and are you experiencing the real joy, peace, happiness, and comfort that comes from a heart and life that is forgiven/cleansed/purified?
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
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