Key Word: Blessed Key Thought: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn BLESSED ARE THE MOURNERS Text: Matthew 5:4 The are a look at one portrait from many different angles. It is like a person who has purchased a diamond and begins to admire its beauty from whatever direction they gaze from. The eight are arranged in four pairs. The first of the series are the blessings that Jesus pronounced upon those who were poor in spirit. There is no doubt that mourning follows poverty of spirit. The word used to describe the "mourning" is the strongest word used in the Greek language. It describes the mourning that takes place over the grieving of a departed loved one. The Hebrew counterpart describes the reaction of Jacob upon believing that his son Joseph had been killed by wild animals. "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days." There Are Only Two Ways That this Beatitude Can Be Understood. I. IT CAN BE TAKEN IN REFERENCE TO OTHERS II. IT CAN BE TAKEN TOWARDS OURSELVES I. IT CAN BE TAKEN IN REFERENCE TO OTHERS Genesis 37:34 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 We can see this beatitude in reference to others. In this sense we as God's people have a heart for those around who we see suffering. "Blessed are those who are desperately sorry for the sorrow and suffering of this world." Page 1 of 7
I. IT CAN BE TAKEN IN REFERENCE TO OTHERS (Contd.) As a church we must never become detached from hurting people. We must be willing to dedicate our lives to serving the needs of others. A wonderful expression that every church needs to adopt is, "How Can I Best Serve You!!!!" There's a clever young man named Somebody Else, There's nothing this guy cannot do. He's busy from morning till way late at night, Just substituting for you. You're asked to do this or you're asked to do that And what is your reply? Get Somebody Else to do that job, He'll do it much better than I. So much to do in this weary old world- So much and workers so few, And Somebody Else, all weary and worn, Is still substituting for you. The next time you're asked to do something worthwhile, Just give this ready reply: If Somebody Else can give time and support, My goodness, so can I! 5646 Shakleton's Advertisement Michael P. Green Illustrations for Biblical Preaching #1223 p. 331 *** The following ad occurred in a London newspaper: "Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success. The ad was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer. Thousands responded instantly to the call. They were ready to sacrifice all for the elation of adventure and uncertain honour. Should God's children do less? *** Page 2 of 7
I. IT CAN BE TAKEN IN REFERENCE TO OTHERS (Contd.) "Our aim should be service not success" "The measure of a man is not the number of servants he has but the number of people he serves." "The roots of happiness grow deepest in the soil of service." II. IT CAN BE TAKEN TOWARD OURSELVES E. C. McKenzie 14,00 Quips & Quotes p. 466 If we understand this beatitude toward ourselves we would believe that Jesus was telling the people that the man who endured the bitterest sorrow in his personal life will be blessed. "All sunshine makes a desert." Arab Proverb There are only a few people who are willing to accept the troubles and trials of life as a way of receiving God's blessing. I truly believe that God uses difficulties in our lives to draw us closer to Him. He still saves the best for the end. "weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs with God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:17 I believe though that our suffering is very unique. I feel Jesus was speaking about a different type of mourning or suffering. I am convinced that He was referring to a desperate sorrow that wells us within us over our own sin and unworthiness. No one can repent unless they become sorry for their sins. Christianity begins with a sense of sin. Page 3 of 7
II. IT CAN BE TAKEN TOWARDS OURSELVES (Contd.) "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17 In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Jesus had a purpose in telling this parable. "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:" Luke 18:9 The Pharisee stood in his own righteousness separating himself by his good works. The tax collector stood humbled and broken recognizing he was a sinner. God admired his brokenness. "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14 The first birthmark of a child of God is one who is poor in spirit. This leads to a state of mourning over our past sin. Yet it does not stop in the past. Anyone with the heart after God continues to mourn over the sins that so easily beset us. The mourning is more of a bereavement, affliction or loss. "It is a mourning over the felt destitution of our spiritual state, and over the iniquities that have separated us and God; mourning over the very morality in which we have boasted, and the selfrighteousness in which we have trusted; sorrow for rebellion against God, and hostility to His will; and such mourning always goes side by side with conscious poverty of spirit. Dr. Pierson "The closer the Christian lives to God, the more he will mourn over all that dishonours Him." Arthur W. Pink The and the Lord's Prayer p. 20 Page 4 of 7
II. IT CAN BE TAKEN TOWARDS OURSELVES (Contd.) When we see the horror of sin we cannot help but sense an intense sorrow towards it. God allows sorrow to teach us so many valuable truths to live by. Those who only experience "JOY" will never be prepared for the reality of life. I walked a mile with Pleasure; She chatted all the way, but left me none the wiser For all she had to say. I walked a mile with Sorrow And ne'er a word said she; But, oh, the things I learned from her When Sorrow walked with me! Robert Browning Hamilton Some find this kind of preaching very difficult to accept. They cannot fathom the need to struggle through life. They wish to only acknowledge the "good things of life" and deny the difficulties. They feel they have nothing to sorrow over. Struggling is believed to be a lack of faith or a result of sin. They must have a hard time with the teaching of Jesus and Paul the apostle who wrote, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:24 Paul was able to blend the two extremes together and still remain true to God. "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing..." II Corinthians 6:10a The day is coming when sorrow will lose its purpose. It will no longer be the experience of the child of God. "... and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10 Page 5 of 7
II. IT CAN BE TAKEN TOWARDS OURSELVES (Contd.) "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4 Until that day arrives we must be willing to sorrow over sin. I'm talking a sorrow that is as deep as one experienced at the death of a loved one. We must continue to sorrow over the results of sin in the lives of others as well as ourselves. God promises to comfort those who do so. "O THE BLISS OF THE MAN WHOSE HEART IS BROKEN FOR THE WORLD'S SUFFERING AND FOR HIS OWN SIN, FOR OUT OF HIS SORROW HE WILL FIND THE JOY OF GOD!" C:\My Documents\WPWin(X7)\Sermons.2015\Beatitude\Matthew 5_4.wpd Date: Nov 1/15 Place: FCA Time: 10:30 Am Song: I am the God that Healeth Thee - D Page 6 of 7
Key Word: Blessed Key Thought: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn BLESSED ARE THE MOURNERS Text: Matthew 5:4 The word used to describe the "mourning" is the strongest word used in the Greek language. It describes the mourning that takes place over the grieving of a departed loved one. The Hebrew counterpart describes the reaction of Jacob upon believing that his son Joseph had been killed by wild animals. "Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days." There Are Only Two Ways That this Beatitude Can Be Understood. I. IT CAN BE TAKEN IN REFERENCE TO OTHERS Matthew 5:4 Genesis 37:34 II. IT CAN BE TAKEN TOWARD OURSELVES Psalm 30:5; Romans 8:17; Psalm 51:17; Luke 18:9; Luke 18:14; Romans 7:24; II Corinthians 6:10a; Isaiah 35:10; Revelation 21:4