Second Beatitude - Blessed are Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"Mourning," in this context, speaks of sorrowing greatly over personal sin.  It is a feeling of such strong regret and hatred over your sin that you run to God seeking forgiveness and never desire to go back to your previous lifestyle.

"Be comforted" refers to the joy felt during the time of forgiveness and a sense of peace knowing that God's salvation is eternal and not based on whether we deserve it or not.  There is security in the knowledge that God sends the Holy Spirit to help and guide us in our spiritual growth.

First Beatitude - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

In the next few blog posts, I will be exploring the beatitudes listed in Matthew 5:3-12.  The word "beatitude" is defined as "supreme blessedness or happiness."  In this passage, "beatitude" refers to a declaration of blessedness that was made by Christ Jesus.  Each beatitude begins with the word "blessed" which means happy, fortunate, and blissful.  These emotions do not come from earthly pleasures, however, but from an inner well being that results from being faithful to God's Word.  As such, it is not temporary or taken away, for God freely bestows it on all who continue in His ways.

The first beatitude deals with "the poor in spirit."  This describes someone who is acutely aware of his own spiritual depravity.  He recognizes that he is hopelessly lost without the grace of God and is therefore humble before Him.  Those that realize their desperate need for God's grace because of their spiritual poverty and humbly seek for God's forgiveness, He shall bestow upon them salvation and eternal life in His kingdom.

Matthew 5:10

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

The Perfect Gift

Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

The Lord will rejoice in gladness over His people in whom He delights.  His love and mercy have nothing to do with any merit that we may possess in ourselves, but simply come from the fact that we are His creation and, as Christians, are also His beloved children.  Despite our innate wickedness and constant rebellion against His Word, He has made it possible for us to be in union with Him once more.  By our sin, we were separated from our loving Creator, but by His own blood, we can be brought back into fellowship with Him.

Every good and wonderful thing that we experience in this life and the life to come is a direct gift from our Heavenly Father, and not only are His gifts freely given if we ask, but they are also eternal.  Never do we need to worry that He will take away His love, salvation, or help in our day of trouble.  Although we truly deserve punishment and eternal separation from Him because of our defiling sin, the Lord has such great love and compassion for us that He has provided a way that we may come to Him, for He desires fellowship with His people and delights in caring for His children.  His love truly is inexpressible, and His mercy is unsurpassed.  Therefore, let us praise Him for His everlasting grace and compassion!

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."