The Blessing and Comfort of Mourning

 

 

Sermon on the Mount- 2

 

TITLE: The Blessing and Comfort of Mourning

TEXT: Matthew 5:4

TONE: Encouragement

TARGET: Both

TASK: To help both believers and unbelievers understand the true eternal blessings of the Kingdom God and to identify the characteristics of Kingdom citizens.

TEACH: Picture a small town nestled in the hills -a place where everyone knows each other’s name and the rhythm of life is in harmony with the changing seasons. In the heart of the town, a family has just experienced a profound loss; they have lost their teenage daughter to a sudden illness. The atmosphere is thick with grief and the weight of sorrow is palpable.

 

As the news spreads, the town comes alive with quiet compassion. One by one, neighbors arrive at the family’s home, each bringing food, soft words, and shoulder to cry on. They don’t come with answers or explanations but with their presence and shared pain. They sit beside the family, holding their hands, weeping with them, and simply being there. In this small, mourning community, the family feels the embrace of their neighbors’ love and a sense of solidarity that speaks louder than any words could.

 

Slowly, amid the tears, a unique kind of blessedness begins to surface -something intangible yet deeply felt. It is the comfort that arises not from the absence of grief, but from the profound connection with others who care. It’s a salve applied to the wound, composed of shared sorrow and mutual support. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn,” because in their vulnerability, they find a special grace. Mourning softens the hard edges of life, allowing the light of empathy, kindness, and divine comfort to penetrate the darkness. It is the act of mourning that we open ourselves to receive and to give the most profound forms of love and comfort -an echo of God’s own promise to be close to the brokenhearted.

 

Main Points

 

1. Mourning Requires a Recognition of Reality.

2. Mourning Requires a Response of Repentance.

3. Mourning Requires a Reassurance of Relief.

 

I.   Mourning Requires a Recognition of Reality

a.        Explanation: The term “mourn” here comes from the Greek word "πενθέω" (pentheo), which signifies deep, heartfelt grief. “Nine different Greek words are used in the NT to speak of sorrow. The story of history is the story of tears. And before the earth’s situation gets better it may get worse. Until the Lord returns, history is destined to move from tragedy to tragedy. Of the nine terms used for sorrow, the one used here is the strongest, the most severe. It represents the deepest, most heartfelt grief. It was used in the Septuagint for Jacob’s grief over the presumed death of Joseph” (MacArthur, Matt.1-7 pg. 156). Mourning in this context does not merely refer to the loss of a loved one but involves a broader sense of sorrow over sin and the fallen state of the world. Richard Sibbs wrote, “Mourning is a wringing or pinching of the soul upon the apprehension of some evil present…that is, when a man finds that absent that he desires and that present which he abhors, then the soul shrinks and contracts itself, and is pinched and wringed; and this is that we call mourning” (Sibbs, Vol. 6 pg. 265). It implies a deep inward agony.

 

Mourning implies an acknowledgment of reality. This reality includes the recognition of personal sin, the realization of spiritual emptiness without God, and an awareness of the world’s brokenness. There are different types of mourning:

 

                                                                                             i.         Carnal Mourning: When a man or woman mourns for the presence of goodness and for the absence of sin, because he or she is restrained and cannot be so bad as they would be.

 

                                                                                          ii.         Natural Mourning: When a man or woman mourn for natural losses.

 

                                                                                       iii.         Spiritual Mourning: When a person mourns because the good things that are spiritually healthy are so far from them and spiritual ills are so near.

 

Mourning over sin begins with an honest and vulnerable evaluation of one’s life. It involves the courage to look within and confront our sinful actions, thoughts and motives. It forces us to acknowledge our imperfections and transgressions. One such example is King David’s penitential psalm, after his sin with Bathsheba, reflects this deep self-awareness and sorrow for personal sin. In Psalm 51:3, David laments, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

 

Understanding and acknowledging our need can be transformative. It opens the door to divine comfort and healing. “Spiritual mourning moderates natural grief and expels and drives out carnal hellish grief and sorrow that is harmful to our nature” (Sibbs, Vol. 6 pg. 270). The more a man or woman can mourn for sin, the less he or she will mourn for other matters; the more heavy sin lies upon their soul, the more lightly he or she can bear losses in other areas.

 

Happiness, or blessedness, does not come in the mourning itself. Happiness comes with what God does in response to it, with the forgiveness.

 

b.        Illustration: Imagine you are a patient suffering from a serious, life-threatening illness. You’ve been experiencing symptoms for some time, but you’ve been ignoring them, hoping they’ll just go away. Finally, the pain becomes unbearable, and you decide to see a specialist. At the doctor’s appointment , the specialist conducts several tests. You sit anxiously in the waiting room, knowing deep down something is very wrong. When the doctor returns with a solemn look, she says, “You have a severe but treatable illness. If we don’t address it now, it will get worse and could be fatal.” Similar to how the patient recognizes their dire health condition, mourning over our sin involves a moment of honest confrontation with our spiritual state. We must recognize that sin -like the disease -is not only present but is destructible and life-threatening to our spiritual health.

 

Often, we have tears for ourselves at command for every trivial thing. If a friend crosses us, we can weep; if an unkind word be uttered, we sob and grow sullen. If a loss or a cross befall us, we can pour ourselves out in carnal weeping. But for the sins of our souls, for the sins of our friends, for the sins of our nation, for the unkindness we offer to God; for the contempt that is cast upon His name, we cannot shed a tear. Why? Because when we come to spiritual mourning, we think we forfeit joy, peace, and liberty. We think we shall never be happy again if we give way to mourning for sin. When we behave this way, we are choosing the poison over the treatment.

 

c.        Application: Embrace moments of honest reflection. When you recognize the sin within and the brokenness around you, it prepares your heart to receive what God has to offer.

 

              II. Mourning Requires a Response of Repentance

a.        Explanation: True mourning leads to action. In biblical terms, this action is repentance -turning away from sin and turning towards God.

 

The act of mourning thus becomes a catalyst for repentance. This repentance is not just feeling sorry but embodies a sincere commitment to change one’s life direction. We must be willing to say, “It is true, I have corruption, but here is my apology, I confess it, I bewail it, I am sorry, and I repent of my sin.” This is the happy state. The place where true comfort is found. 

 

The faithful child of God is constantly broken over sinfulness and the longer he or she lives and the more mature they become in the Lord, the harder it is for them to be frivolous. He sees more of God’s love and mercy, but also sees more of his sinfulness.

 

The mark of the mature life is not sinlessness, but a growing awareness of sinfulness. And true mourning over sin does not focus on ourselves, not even our sin, but on God.

 

Repentance is not a journey of shame but a path leading to transformation. When you repent, you align yourself with God’s plan and purpose, paving the way for spiritual renewal and growth. Repentance is often misunderstood as an act centered on guilt and self-condemnation. However, true repentance, when viewed theologically, is far richer and more profound. The Greek word for repentance, “metanoia,” literally means a change of mind -a fundamental transformation of one’s heart and character. It invokes turning away from sin and anything that separate us from God’s perfect will.

 

Repentance is a divine invitation to synchronize our lives with God’s original design and intent. It is not merely an acknowledgement of our wrongdoings but an active realignment with His will and His purposes for us.

 

b.        Illustration: Upon this sobering realization, the patient has choice: ignore the diagnosis and continue as before or accepts the truth and follow the doctor’s prescribed treatment. The right choice would mean undergoing surgeries and treatments, which might be painful but are necessary for healing. In a similar fashion, when we recognize our sin and truly mourn it, we must respond with genuine repentance. This may involve painful steps: confessing our sins, seeking forgiveness, and making significant changes to our lifestyle. Accepting and addressing the spiritual “disease” brings hope.

 

c.        Application: Let your mourning drive you to God’s grace. Rather than wallowing in guilt, allow the sorrow to bring you to your knees in repentance, making room for God’s transformative work in your life.

 

III.                      Mourning Requires a Reassurance of Rest.

a.        Explanation: “For they shall be comforted” promises divine consolation. The phrase points to both present and future comfort.

 

Present Rest: The Holy Spirit, referred to as the Comforter (Jn. 14:16), provides ongoing comfort to believers. In times of mourning, the Holy Spirit ushers in peace and solace that surpasses understanding (Phil. 4:7). The word for comfort is parakaleo, meaning “Helper” or “Comforter.”

 

Future Comfort: “Shall be” does not refer to the end of our lives or the end of the age. Like all other blessings of God, it will be completed only when we see our Lord face-to-face. In the eternal heavenly state, where, ultimate rest awaits in the eschatological fulfillment of God’s kingdom, there “He will wipe away every tear” (Rev. 21:4).

 

God’s comfort/rest is both now and not yet. Where the world offers fleeting pleasure, God promises eternal comfort. This comfort/rest assures us that our mourning is not in vain and will ultimately be replaced with everlasting joy.

 

b.        Illustration: After the treatment period, the patient begins to recover. They realize that the temporary pain of surgery has given way to newfound strength and healing. The disease is removed, and there is an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude. This illustrates the promise in Matthew 5:4, that those who mourn over their sin will find rest. God, as the ultimate healer, not only forgives but restores, bringing peace through the Holy Spirit and offering eternal comfort in His kingdom.

 

c.        Application: Lean into the promises of God. Trust that in moments of deep sorrow and repentance, His comfort is as certain as His love for you, providing peace now and in the glorious future.

 

Eliminate Hindrances (MacArthur, Matt.1-7 pg. 161-162).

 

1.Love of sin is the primary hindrance of mourning.

2.Despair hinders mourning because despair is giving up on God.

3.Conceit is a hindrance that tries to hide sin, choosing to believe that there is nothing to mourn.

4.Presumption hinders mourning because it is really a form of pride. It recognizes the need of grace, but not much grace. It is satisfied with cheap grace.

5. Procrastination hinders simply by putting it off.

 

TAKE-AWAY:

 

1.Mouring Requires a Recognition of Reality: Face the truths about personal sin and worldly brokenness honestly. Embrace moments of honest reflection.

 

2. Mourning Requires a Response of Repentance: Use that acknowledgment as a springboard for genuine repentance. Let your mourning drive you to grace.

 

3.Mourning Requires a Reassurance of Rest: Embrace the divine comfort offered by God through His Spirit now and look forward to the ultimate comfort in His full pleasure. Lean into the promises of God.

 

             

  

TIE-UP: As Christ’s followers, let us not shy away from spiritual mourning. It is a necessary path that leads us to God’s repentance and renewal. Embrace the grief over sin, turn towards God in humility, and receive His boundless comfort.

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