Blessed are...

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"those who mourn. This speaks of mourning over sin,
the godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation without regret
(2Co 7:10). The "comfort" is the comfort of forgiveness and salvation (cf. Is
40:1,2).

(MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible.)

Just as in verse three, verse four speaks of salvation. "Blessed are those who mourn." This doesn't speak of just crying or mourning over anything. This "mourning" is a broken heart before God, a mourning over sin.

We seen yesterday that we must be poor in spirit for "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This poverty of spirit, or rather, the realization of your poverty of spirit, leads to a mourning over sin. When we realize that we have sinned before a holy God, that we will be punished justly in hell for these sins that we have committed, but that Christ took the punishment for us, we mourn over our wretched souls. It's God's grace that leads us to this mourning. "the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4).

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). We turn to the mercies of God through this brokenness. Only through His love and mercy can we be forgiven of our sins. It's by His grace we are saved. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

So, this is how those who mourn "shall be comforted." When a person mourns over their sins and has a true godly sorrow, this leads to repentance. God saves them. Then, once God saves them, He gives them a new heart, with new desires. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

Those saved by God's grace are comforted in the fact that Christ took their punishment on the cross and bore God's wrath. We have comfort that God's wrath is satisfied and we are forgiven! We have comfort that we will one day be with our Savior because He rose from the dead, therefore initiating life. Death has no sting! "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?'" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).

Have you mourned over your sins? Have you had a true godly sorrow leading to repentance? Do you know the poverty of your spirit? Think about your sins. Think about the many times you have sinned before God. He sees everything, even your thought life. Then look at the Cross, where Christ took your punishment and bore your wrath. Let this break your heart. Repent (turn away from) your sins, put your trust in Christ today! You may not have another day.

In Christ,
Kirsten