The Beatitudes - Pt 3

 

[Jesus said] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4 ESV)

 

Jesus now comes to the second declaration that those who “mourn” will be comforted. The word for “mourn is πενθοῦντες (penthountes).  It is from the root word “penthos”; which means to grieve, either the feeling or the act. It is a very strong image, calling to mind the act of wailing. The verb appears ten times in the Greek New Testament and consistently depicts profound sorrow that is either godly—aligned with repentance and dependence on the Lord—or worldly, lamenting the loss of earthly pleasure and prosperity. In the Septuagint, πενθέω renders Hebrew terms for lamentation over death (cf. Genesis 37:34), national calamity (cf. Isaiah 19:8), and personal sin (cf. Joel 2:12). This background supplies the prophetic texture heard in New Testament calls to mourn, linking grief to covenant violation and anticipation of divine comfort.

 

While the grief experienced in the death of a loved one is intensely painful, this is not what Jesus is talking about in this verse. Of course, Jesus gives comfort to those who grieve in such experiences; however, here He is talking more than that. He highlights a countercultural promise of God's comfort. It generally carries two main interpretations. The first is sorrow over sin. It is the mourning over personal brokenness, wrongdoing, and the fallen nature of the world, which ultimately leads to repentance and grace. And, second, it is grief over hardship. Experiencing deep personal loss or suffering, with the promise that God sees their pain and will provide divine peace and comfort.

 

David expresses this grief in the Psalms when he writes his song of repentance: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.” (Psalm 51:7-8 ESV). We can infer two principles here. First, if, and sadly when we sin, we have a recourse. Turn and confess. And, second, now we find even joy, gladness, and rejoicing. This is the real comfort of God’s work!