Anchor My Faith

Those Who Mourn

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

We continue on with the second beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:5). The first beatitude promised the kingdom for those who were poor in spirit. This, the second, beatitude promises comfort for those who mourn.

This beatitude looks back to Isaiah 61:1 – 3, and draws out the statement, “to comfort all who mourn” found in verse 2. In verse 3 we find the statement, “to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.” Those who mourn are suffering the pain and the grief and the anxiety of the soul over some loss. The loss is often the death of a loved one, but it could also be the loss of a valued life, such as that experienced under persecution for your faith. But do we mourn our death because of our sin because the wage of sin is death.

Because of sin, Israel finds itself in the grips of tyrannical powers and ruthless rulers and as their Messiah, Jesus comes announcing that the kingdom was at hand and available to those who are poor in spirit; for those who repent of their sin. In a previous lesson, Jesus claimed that he can forgive sins. On the cross he will suffer and die in our place to cover our sin and then he will rise from the dead to provide the way for us to our Father.

 As we suffer oppression under the hands of sinners and even from our own sin, we can look to the cross and know that according to his great mercy, we have been born again to a living hope through his resurrection from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, and guarded by God’s power. Even though we suffer now for a short time, we can rejoice in his promise that he will guard our inheritance and bring us to receive it.

Have you come to the place of being poor in spirit and do you mourn over your sin? If so, Jesus will provide you access to the kingdom and comfort from your grief. As believers, we are not without hope because Jesus died for our sin and rose again to overcome death and provide the way to our Father in heaven.

Prayer

Father, how important it is that we should mourn over the spiritual, emotional, or financial loss resulting from sin and cause us to long for your forgiveness and healing. “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV). Father, we humble ourselves before you and mourn over our sin and find comfort even in our suffering.