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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.
— John W. Ritenbaugh
To learn more, see:
The Beatitudes, Part Three: Mourning
Related Topics:
Comfort of God
God's Purpose
Godly Sorrow
Grief
Mourning
Mourning's Emotional Power
Remorse
Repentance
Sorrow
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