The Mournful

If the first characteristic is listed first because it is the first necessary trait of the heaven-bound, perhaps the second trait is also listed meaningfully: "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matt. 5:4). Could Jesus have been describing heartfelt repentance and remorse? I think so, especially since Scripture is clear that godly sorrow results in a repentance that is necessary for salvation (see 2 Cor. 7:10). The mournful tax collector Jesus spoke of who humbly bowed his head in the Temple, beating his breast and crying out for God's mercy, was indeed a blessed person. Unlike the proud Pharisee who also prayed in the Temple, the tax gatherer left that place justified, forgiven of his sins (see Luke 18:9-14). I suspect that there were those among Jesus' audience who, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, were mourning. Comfort from the Holy Spirit would soon be theirs!

If Jesus was not speaking of the initial mourning of the repentant person who is just coming to Christ, then perhaps He was describing the sorrow all true believers sense as they continually face a world that is in rebellion against the God who loves them. Paul expressed it as "great sorrow and unceasing grief in [his] heart" (Rom. 9:2).

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•     The Sermon on the Mount
•     Jesus Gathers His Audience
•     The Blessings and Character Traits
•     The Character Traits of the Blessed
•     The Mournful
•     The Gentle
•     Hungering for Righteousness
•     The Merciful
•     The Pure in Heart
•     The Peacemakers
•     The Persecuted
•     Salt and Light
•     The Law's Relationship to Christ's Followers
•     The Importance of Keeping the Law
•     Of What Kind of Righteousness Was Jesus Speaking?
•     How to be Holier than the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Love Each Other, Unlike the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Be Sexually Pure, Unlike the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Another Way to Commit Adultery
•     A Different View
•     Be Honest, Unlike the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Don't Take Revenge, as do the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Don't Hate Your Enemies, as do the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Do Good for the Right Motives, Unlike the Scribes and Pharisees
•     Prayer and Fasting for the Right Reasons
•     A Digression Regarding Prayer and Forgiveness
•     The Model Prayer Continues
•     The Disciple and His Material Possessions
•     The Bad Eye
•     The Covetous Poor
•     Don't be a Fault-Finder
•     Encouragement to Pray
•     A Summarizing Statement
•     How to Recognize False Religious Leaders
•     A Final Warning and Summary
•     Answer to a Question