Matthew 5:4
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

A specific type of mourning is the kind that receives the comfort of God. Millions, perhaps billions,

of mourners in the world do not come within the scope of Jesus’ statement. These mourners may even be

under God’s condemnation and far from receiving any of His comfort.

The Bible shows three kinds of sorrow. The first is the natural grief that arises from tragic circumstances.

 The second is a sinful, inordinate, hopeless sorrow that can even refuse to be comforted. Perhaps the

 outstanding biblical example of this is Judas, whose remorse led him to commit a further sin, self-murder.

 Paul, in II Corinthians 7:10, calls this “the sorrow of the world [which] produces death.” The third sorrow

 is godly sorrow. In the same verse, Paul writes, “For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to

be regretted. . . .”

Mourning, grief, or sorrow is not a good thing in itself. What motivates it, combined with what it produces,

 is what matters. Thus, II Corinthians 7:10 states a vital key: The mourning that Jesus teaches is a major

spiritual component of godly repentance that leads to or helps to produce the abundant life of John 10:10.

This principle arises often in secular life because humans seem bound and determined to learn by painful experience.

 For example, only when our health is either breaking or broken down, and we are suffering the painful effects of

 ignorantly or willfully ignoring health laws, do we make serious efforts to discover causes that lead to recovery

of health and relief from the pains of disease. At that point we truly want to bring the comfort of good health back

 into our life.

Solomon addresses this truism in Ecclesiastes 7:2-4:

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and

 the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Solomon is in no way saying that feasting and laughter are to be avoided, but rather he is comparing their relative value

 to life. Feasting does not contain an inherent power to motivate positive change in the way one is living. Instead, it

 motivates one to remain as he is, feeling a sense of temporary well-being. Contrariwise, sorrow—especially when pain or

 death is part of the picture (Psalm 90:12)—has an intrinsic power to draw a person to consider the direction of his path

 and institute changes that will enhance his life.

This general principle applies to virtually all life’s difficulties. Whether health problems or financial difficulties,

family troubles or business hassles, in falling into them and being delivered from them, we generally follow this pattern.

 However, spiritually, in our relationship with God, some variations from this general principle arise because God is deeply

involved in leading and guiding our creation into His image.

In this case, not everything is happening “naturally.” He intervenes in the natural processes of our life and calls us,

 revealing Himself and His will to us. His goodness leads us to repentance. By His Spirit we are regenerated, taught, guided,

and enabled. He creates circumstances in our life by which we are moved to grow and become like Him in character and perspective,

but some of these circumstances cause a great deal of sorrow. By His grace He supplies our every need so that we are well equipped

 to meet His demands on our life and glorify Him.

But Jesus’ teaching never detaches this principle of sorrow or mourning from God’s purpose because the right kind of mourning properly

 directed has the power to motivate wonderfully positive results. God definitely wants results, fruit produced through our relationship

 with Him. As Jesus says, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Concerning Matthew 5:4, William Barclay writes in his commentary, The Gospel of Matthew:

It is first of all to be noted about this beatitude that the Greek word for to mourn, used here, is the strongest word for mourning

 in the Greek language. . . . It is defined as the kind of grief which takes such a hold on a man that it cannot be hid. It is not

 only the sorrow which brings an ache to the heart; it is the sorrow which brings the unrestrainable tears to the eyes. (p. 93)

This illustrates mourning’s emotional power, indicating it has enough power to produce the resolve to accomplish more than merely

 feeling badly and crying.