Beatitudes 2
Bible passage: Matthew 5:4
“4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Today is the second sermon on the Beatitudes.
Last week, we looked at the first Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We clarified that being 'poor in spirit' doesn’t mean poor regarding worldly materials like lacking wealth or power. Faithful people in the Bible like Abraham and Job lived abundantly because they were loved by God. Joseph was sold as a slave to a foreign land, and Daniel was taken as a war captive, but both were blessed to rise to great positions of power and wealth in those foreign lands.
If we interpret ‘poor in spirit’ literally, it would seem like these people would be without blessings. So it’s important to understand the words spiritually. To be poor in spirit spiritually means having a humble heart, free from evil and worldly desires. Such a person can easily believe in God and, by obeying to His Word, receive the blessing of the kingdom of heaven. Not only will they be saved and enter eternal heaven, but also enjoy spiritual authority and blessings as God’s children of God on earth. Brothers and sisters, the Beatitudes are familiar to many, even to worldly people. But simply knowing the words is not enough; we must understand their spiritual meaning and follow the path to blessings. To become 'poor in spirit,' we must first understand what it actually means. We need to understand what it means to mourn, to be meek, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
By learning and applying these in our lives, we can truly live as God's children and glorify Him. This will lead us to our ultimate desire of New Jerusalem. Dear brothers and sisters, may you take to heart the precious words from today, allow it to nourish your spirit and be evident in your lives. I pray in the Lord that the full blessings of the Beatitudes will come upon you, so that you may be recognized as blessed before all. Dear brothers and sisters, Today, we’ll be looking at the second Beatitudes that will help lead us to New Jerusalem. The second blessing says in Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." A blessing for those who mourn, the word ‘mourning’ is defined as a ‘heart full of sorrow and pain.’ Does this mean we must live in constant sadness and sorrowful frowns to be blessed? Or does it mean that we should seek out the poor and the suffering to mourn with them and serve?
To fully understand this verse, we must understand the spiritual meaning of mourning. There are two types of mourning: physical (worldly) and spiritual. Worldly mourning—stemming from sin, unmet desires, or emotional pain—has nothing to do with God and doesn't bring blessings. People in the world mourn because of poverty, illness, weakness, or frustration over unmet desires, becoming angry or discouraged. They mourn from being betrayed by a loved one or feeling hurt by others. This includes sad movies, music or atmosphere. But this kind of mourning is not God’s will. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” And Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls us to rejoice and give thanks.
No matter our trials because we are God’s children, saved and promised the kingdom of heaven. When we pray in faith during difficulties and trust in God's response, we can truly rejoice and give thanks. The mourning of the blessed is not worldly, but spiritual. So, what is spiritual mourning? Spiritual mourning is mourning for the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The first type is the mourning of repentance. When we first accept the Lord and receive the Holy Spirit, we weep over our sins, realizing that Jesus died for us. Some believers kneel and confess that they’re sinners with deep emotion or spend weeks in deep repentance. Others weep in gratitude for God's love and salvation as they listen to the Word and read the Bible. After such repentance, many experience a renewed sense of the Holy Spirit and God's grace, reliving the joy of their first love in Christ. Even after repenting and receiving grace, we may still come across situations that cause us to mourn. We should live according to Scripture, shed sin and become sanctified as we believe in the Lords. But we may still fall into sin due to weak faith. When this happens, we must mourn once more, praying and fasting earnestly to be cleansed of our sins. When sin is revealed, we must mourn, pray, and fast to be cleansed. As our faith grows, we should no longer need to repent over the same sins.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn't mourn sin, but if we long for the Lord's return and the New Jerusalem, we should strive to avoid sin and not create reasons to mourn. Next, we can experience the mourning of repentance when we fail to fulfill our mission. As workers and leaders, we are called to pray, evangelize, encourage others and bear fruit but neglecting these duties causes us to mourn. If we don’t feel remorse or a desire to return to faithfulness, it shows a lack of love for God. Another form of spiritual mourning occurs when we see a fellow believer caught in sin or heading toward destruction. When those around us fall into sin and head toward destruction or lose strength amidst trials, we must encourage and pray for them as if it were our own burden.
We should mourn and intercede for them with a compassionate heart, repenting on their behalf so they may walk in truth. Some people, instead of mourning and praying for others with compassion, condemn and criticize, causing pain or spreading others' faults. They judge and criticize, causing pain with their words, or gossiping to others. Such people are not righteous before God. Often disobedient and burdensome, Moses interceded on their behalf, risking his life to seek God's mercy when the Israelites sinned and provoked God’s anger. This heart of selfless intercession is what is righteous before God and worthy of blessing.
Another form of spiritual mourning is mourning for the salvation of souls. When loved ones or others are lost and heading toward destruction, we mourn and pray for their salvation. This spiritual mourning, righteous before God, also includes mourning for the lost souls, the nation, the church, and anything that opposes God's kingdom. In 2 Corinthians 11, Apostle Paul recounts the many sufferings he endured for the gospel showing his deep commitment to the mission. He was imprisoned multiple times and beaten countless times with near-death experiences.
He endured forty lashes minus one, was stoned, shipwrecked, spent a day and night in the open sea, and suffered hunger, thirst, cold, and exposure many times. 2 Corinthians 11:28-29 tells us, "Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?" Paul explains that his mourning is not from his own suffering but from concern for the churches. Acts 20:31 also says, "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." Those who mourn for God’s kingdom are troubled when believers falter or when churches fail to honor God. In persecution, their mourning is not for personal hardship but for the souls of others. When we see the world growing darker, we mourn and pray for God's glory and the salvation of souls.
However, our mourning should not overwhelm us to the point where it hinders our prayers or service for God’s work. It’s important to must practice self-control. True mourning for God’s kingdom is not just words or tears; it must be accompanied by action. For example, if we mourn over sin, we must truly repent and bear the fruit of change. If we mourn for souls, it must be accompanied by the act of actively praying, evangelizing, and visiting them. God promises comfort to those who mourn this way. When someone is grieving or suffering, people may offer words of comfort but do nothing to ease the burden.
But God’s comfort is different from that of people—it is real and practical, bringing true relief. 1 John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth,” God’s love is love with action and truth. God’s comfort is not merely verbal but practical—He provides food to the hungry, heals the sick, and answers our heart's desires. This is true comfort. When you mourn spiritually and receive God's comfort, it will always bear fruit. Psalm 32:1 tells us, "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!" When we mourn over our sins, God blesses us with forgiveness. When the wall of sin is removed, we become filled with the Holy Spirit and the joy that follows is great. With that fullness, God grants us power and grace from above, and through the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to cast off our sins.
As we shed sin, our soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." God blesses us in all areas—health, prosperity, and strength—answering our prayers and granting blessings to our families and work. God strengthens those who mourn for not fulfilling their mission. The prayers and actions of those who mourn for souls enable them to bear fruit in their work. God sends faithful, obedient believers and good workers to join.
As they grow in holiness, their mourning deepens, allowing them to save souls and pray with the heart of Jesus. Like Apostle Paul and Peter, such workers are given great power and used as instruments to expand God's kingdom. This kind of mourning is truly blessed and leads to eternal rewards in heaven. Dear brothers and sisters, How much do you mourn? Some believers feel sorrow and distress when misunderstand or criticized – feel empty, lack in things to boast about, be sad rather than joyful. But I hope you won’t mourn over worldly things. Instead, live a valuable life of spiritual mourning—mourn to rid yourself of sin, mourn for others, and mourn for the kingdom of God. In these last days, let us mourn for the lost and evangelize so more souls can come before the Lord.
As you pray and mourn spiritually, may you experience God’s comfort and answers. Remember, your spiritual mourning on earth will be rewarded in heaven with eternal blessings. In a previous message about heaven, a person who always mourned and prayed was mentioned. In this person’s heavenly home, there’re many pearls and other jewels and rewards. But the pearls specifically represent God’s comfort in response to the tears and prayers for souls and for God's kingdom on earth. Revelation 21:4 says, “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Just as the verse promises, there will be no more tears or mourning and all the spiritual mourning on earth will be rewarded with glory and blessings in heaven.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you will accumulate many beautiful rewards, like crowns of pearls and other gems. Do not mourn for personal gain like the world, but mourn spiritually for God's kingdom and for the souls. May you be blessed to receive God's abundant comfort both on earth and in heaven.
