“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4, LSB

Mourning is an inescapable part of the human experience. Because of the extensive corruption brought about by sin, mankind exists in a world that is dying and full of grief (Rom 8:22). Man, as we previously discussed, is by his own nature woefully separated from Holy God and doomed to die because of sin (Rom 6:23). Death and corruption surround us. There is much to mourn.

Now you’re probably thinking that this isn’t a very encouraging topic. That’s understandable! Though we can’t escape it entirely, we tend to actively avoid being in a position of mourning. We’d rather be happy and carefree all the time. So how do we make sense of Jesus’ second beatitude? “Blessed (happy) are those who mourn” (Mat 5:4). It seems like there is a contradiction here.

One helpful question to ask here is, “What is the thing being mourned?” The relationship between verses three and four makes it clear. The one who mourns mourns over sin. The very thing that creates that great chasm between sinful man and holy God is the very thing that true disciples will grieve over. We mourn over our own sin because it is ultimately rebellion against God Himself (Ps 51:4). Not only that, believers also mourn over the sin in the world because we long for the day when it will all be made right.

It is a blessing to stay mournful of sin because it keeps the disciple in a posture of repentance and expectation. Our sins are ever before us (Ps 51:3), but “a broken and a contrite heart [the Lord] will not despise” (Ps 51:17). This kind of mourning, 2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us, is a “godly sorrow [that] produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation.”

“It is a blessing to stay mournful of sin because it keeps the disciple in a posture of repentance and expectation.”

Salvation and new life in Christ! These are the things that bring believers peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:7). We are, of course, comforted by the Holy Spirit even as we mourn the loss of loved ones or face many other sorrows in this world, but the greatest comfort believers are given is the confidence that Christ, who is on His throne even now, will come again to right all wrongs, cleanse all sin, and wipe every tear from the eyes of those who are mourning (Rev 7:16-17).

Let us pray, dear friends, to stay mournful over sin, that you and I may find ourselves continually at the feet of our savior crying, “come quickly, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20).

Soli Deo Gloria