Blessed are Those Who Mourn
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Today we will be looking at the second beatitude found in Matthew 5:4. Before we get to that I want to take a minute to review. Last week we talked about the idea of “inclusio” a literary device used to show that all of the content is to be interpreted through the same lens. The beatitudes are enveloped between Matthew 5:3 and Matthew 5:10 with the phrase “The Kingdom of heaven is theirs”.
Then we determined two key terms were necessary for proper interpretation.
“Blessed” - almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, ... a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
“Blessed” - almost universally occurs in connections which emphasize, ... a sense of God’s approval founded in righteousness which rests ultimately on love to God.
“Kingdom of Heaven” - The present and future realm in which Jesus Christ exercises full authority, and through which he triumphs over all opposition.
“Kingdom of Heaven” - The present and future realm in which Jesus Christ exercises full authority, and through which he triumphs over all opposition.
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
Then we honed in on this Key Idea:
“...we know that He did not come to teach us only: He came to make us what He teaches we should be. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us.”
“...we know that He did not come to teach us only: He came to make us what He teaches we should be. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I. Not all Mourning/Grief is the same.
I. Not all Mourning/Grief is the same.
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.
II. Examples of Godly Grief.
II. Examples of Godly Grief.
A. David
A. David
Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.
B. Peter
B. Peter
Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Application: We see from these examples that these individuals were not simply remorseful but allowed their grief to lead them to a heart change (repentance)
III. Examples of Worldly Grief
III. Examples of Worldly Grief
A. Esau
A. Esau
Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.
And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.
For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.
Application: Esau was remorseful over his choice because it lead to undesirable consequences, but yet his heart was left unchanged by his grief.
B. Judas
B. Judas
Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!”
So he threw the silver into the temple and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.
Grief that only ends in remorse and not a heart change(repentance) that turns to Christ is worldly grief and ends in death.
Grief that only ends in remorse and not a heart change(repentance) that turns to Christ is worldly grief and ends in death.
Application: Remorse over sin or sin’s consequences is not the same as repentance.
Connecting Point: Now we can see how “poor in Spirit and “blessed are those who mourn” are connected. poverty of spirit before God leads to brokenness over sin.
II. How Will they Be Comforted?
II. How Will they Be Comforted?
Interestingly enough this verse doesn’t directly answer the question “How or with what shall they be comforted?”
This is where the understanding of “Inclusio” becomes important to our interpretation. Remember that everything that we pull from these verses is coming out of the envelope labeled Kingdom.
What the comfort is not. Jesus is not making the promise if you follow me your life or circumstances on earth will get better.
How do we know that to be the case?
Well verses 10-11 don’t seem to make that prediction.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me.
Trans: If we are pulling both the lesson and the application from the envelope of the Kingdom than the source of the comfort will not come from the promise of better earthly circumstances, but the promised comfort will be rewarded from within the Kingdom of heaven itself. The comfort comes in two ways
Two Ways Those Who Mourn our Comforted
Two Ways Those Who Mourn our Comforted
The understanding of the term “Blessed” -We are loved and accepted by God through Christs payment of our sins and despite our worldly circumstances we have this peace. Comfort is a result of the acceptance of the gospel message. The Gospel brings comfort to our soul even if are flesh is in torment.
The understanding of the term “Blessed” -We are loved and accepted by God through Christs payment of our sins and despite our worldly circumstances we have this peace. Comfort is a result of the acceptance of the gospel message. The Gospel brings comfort to our soul even if are flesh is in torment.
Judas had no comfort because he didn’t turn to the savior. He was full of remorse, but not repentance.
Judas had no comfort because he didn’t turn to the savior. He was full of remorse, but not repentance.
There is comfort in knowing that because I am forgiven I have a part in the perfect future Kingdom of Heaven.
There is comfort in knowing that because I am forgiven I have a part in the perfect future Kingdom of Heaven.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.