“Oh that I had wings like a bird to fly away!” Such is the attitude that most people take toward difficulties in their lives. When it comes to sorrow, most would prefer to be as far away from it as possible. Yet Jesus shocks us when he states: “Blessed are those who mourn.” While some might handle the idea that the poor in spirit are blessed, the idea of those mourning being blessed is inconceivable. Yet that is exactly what Jesus says. And he doesn’t say, they will be blessed–we could handle that.. He says, they are blessed!
In fact, some have even suggested the translation: “happy are the unhappy.” As shocking as that translation may sound, it does not even come close to the intensity of the actual words. In the Greek, we find nine different words to describe mourning. They all express varying degrees of grief. The word Jesus uses here is the most severe of all. It indicates a grief related to the loss of a loved one. It is the kind of grief Jacob expressed when he heard that his son Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. It is the kind of grief that is so deep it refuses to be comforted. That is the type of mourning that Jesus says will be blessed.
What Does it Mean?
First, let us clarify what it does not mean. It does not mean “Blessed are those who have mourned.” The tense used in this passage is present active. It indicates an on-going condition. Many take this passage as words of comfort to those who have experienced any kind of loss or discomfort in this life. But such a translation will not fit this passage. Jesus is not promising blessing to everyone who has experienced any kind of sorrow. Instead, he promises blessing only to those who mourn as a way of life.
However, we must be careful not to misunderstand what it means to “mourn as a way of life.” Some might be tempted to see this passage as a prooftext for a somber and sober Christianity that walks around with a long face. Such cannot be supported from Scripture. Indeed, the life of a believer ought to be one marked by unusual joy, even in the midst of great difficulties. Thus we see Paul and Silas rejoicing and singing from their Philippian jail. Thus we see Peter and the apostles rejoicing after they had been beaten and warned to no longer speak in the name of Jesus. Jesus himself taught that he came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly.” Peter reminded believers that they have a “joy unspeakable” in the Lord. Paul told believers to “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and to have their hearts overflowing with songs of thanksgiving to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). The mourning that Jesus speaks of here does not mean that believers are not to express their joy in life.
What then is this mourning that brings blessing? To rightly understand this mourning, it will be helpful to examine the three types of mourning mentioned in the Scriptures.
First, there is natural mourning. It is grief over loss in this life. We see this type of mourning in Abraham at the death of his wife Sarah. We also see it in the New Testament at the grave of Lazarus in John 11. The Bible says at least two things about this type of mourning. First, this mourning is normal and proper. In 1 Thessalonians 4, the apostle gives comfort to those who have lost loved ones to death reminding them that they would see them again in the resurrection. But regarding their grief, he never says as we often hear counseled at some funeral, “Don’t grieve; be strong.” Instead, Paul affirms that their grief is proper: “We grieve, yet not as though who have no hope.” Natural mourning is proper. Second, the Scriptures also show us that such grief is precious. Psalm 56:8 tells us something of the preciousness of tears before the Lord: “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”
The second type of mourning we encounter in Scripture is what we could call improper. It is sorrow over unfulfilled evil desires. We see this type of grief in 2 Samuel 13:1-4 when Amnon became so sorrowful that he became sick. What was the occasion of his sorrow? He desired to have sexual relations with his half-sister Tamar who would have nothing to do with it. His mourning was improper and it eventually led him into sin. We see the same type of mourning in 1 Kings 21:1-4 where Ahab was so sorrowful over the fact that Naboth would not sell him his vineyard that he could not even eat. Like Amnon, Ahab’s sorrow was improper and led him into sin, not away from it.
Improper sorrow is also mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:8-10. There Paul reminds us that there is a distinction between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow mourns over the consequences of the sin, not the sin itself. Indeed, worldly sorrow does not produce a hatred of sin, but rather a hatred of consequences. It has regrets. It may give up the sin for a moment, but only because it has been found out. It really longs to have the sin back without the consequences. Such sorrow is improper because it does not grieve over the sin itself.
Finally, there is a sorrow that Paul calls godly. It is sorrow over our condition and our sinfulness. It sees sin from God’s perspective. A person experiencing such sorrow longs to be free from that sin and has no regrets about giving it up.
It is this type of mourning to which Jesus refers in this beatitude. It is the sorrow that a believer constantly carries about in his own heart over his own sins. It is the constant realization that “in my flesh dwelleth no good” (Romans 7:25). It is the admission of Isaiah: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” It is the confession of Peter as he stands before the Lord, “Depart form me, for I am a sinful man.”
Some may argue that such an attitude only serves to lower man’s self-esteem. We could contend that man’s great problem is his pride and that all attempts to provide an elevated view of man are not realistic, nor are they helpful. They are not realistic because they do not take seriously how God views sin. They are not helpful because, rather than causing man to cry out to God for mercy, they cause man to feel better about himself! God cannot ever bless any man who has an elevated attitude of himself in this regard. He is opposed to the proud. He does not bless them.
Mourning is the attitude that brings the blessing of God. It is one that continually recognizes that we are constantly dependent upon His mercies for our life. It is one that continually reminds us that we have no reason for pride, no matter how far we may have come in the Christian life. Such an attitude is the one that is blessed by the Lord.
Why Are They Happy?
But we must ask, “Why are these who mourn happy?” We note at least two reasons in this beatitude.
First, they are happy because they are blessed. Notice that I did not say, “They will be blessed.” That is also true but that is not what Jesus says. He says “Blessed (now) are those who mourn.” The focus is on the present tense. The second part of the beatitude speaks of the future, but here he notes their present blessedness. Why? Three reasons. They are happy because they are accepted by God (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17). Additionally, they are happy because they alone experience true joy in life. They may experience temporary sorrow, but they know the Lord will turn their sorrow into joy (Psalm 30). Finally, they are happy because they know they are being changed (Hebrews 12:11). That’s why they can even endure tribulations and trials–not because they are stoics, but because they know that God is changing them and so they can rejoice even in their trials (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:1-5).
Second, they are happy because they shall be comforted. This part of the beatitude speaks of the future. There are many ways that God comforts the believer. In John 14:16-18, the Holy Spirit provides comfort. According to Romans 15:4, we find comfort in the Word of God. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, and 11, we learn that believers are comforted even as Paul was by the prayers and fellowship of other believers. But most of all, we will one day be comforted by God Himself in eternity. In Luke 16:25, Abraham told the rich man in Hades that Lazarus was being comforted in paradise. According to Revelation 21:4, we are told that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Thus the believer finds his joy not only in what God is doing in him in this present life; he also finds his joy rooted in the comfort that God promises him in eternity.
How Can We Be Blessed by Mourning?
First, we need to see the value of sorrow. The title of one modern book expresses well the attitude believers ought to have toward difficulties: Don’t Waste Your Sorrows. In the book, the author contends that God has allowed every sorrow in our lives as an opportunity to give Him glory. When we grumble or complain about our sorrows, we are wasting an opportunity to be changed now and receive eternal reward later.
Such was the attitude of the early church toward suffering and sorrow. When the apostles were beaten and told not to teach any more in the name of Jesus, they returned rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer for His name’s sake. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul tells us: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” In Romans 8:17, he explains his optimism in the face of suffering: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed in us.” Paul recognized that sorrow and suffering were opportunities to glorify God and receive eternal reward. He was not about to “waste” such an opportunity.
Second, we need to share the sorrow of others. Those who truly mourn over their own sins are not so fast to condemn the sins they see in others. Wesley noted: “When I am close to God, I tend to be hard on my own sins and merciful toward the sins of others. When I am away from God, I tend to be soft on my own sins and hard on the sins of others.” Those who mourn over their own sins do not become proud in their comparisons with other sinners. Instead, like Paul, we see that it is only God’s grace that has made us what we are. Such an attitude enables us to truly share the sorrow of others.
Third, we need to sorrow over our own sins. This is actually the beginning point for those who would experience the blessing of those who mourn. To be blessed we must keep a tender heart before God regarding our own sins. Proverbs 4:23 says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Psalm 51:17 reminds us: “a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” The blessing of God is for those whose hearts are continually mourning over their sins.
Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 1999. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International
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