Blessed Are Those That Mourn, For They Will Be Comforted Series

January 9, 2011

Blessed are those who morn, for they will be comforted

Matthew 5:1-5:12

Introduction

We continue to study the Sermon on the Mount.

Last week we looked - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

We saw that to be poor in spirit had nothing to do with money , it had everything to do with being humble. The opposite of being prideful and self-centered.

That we must admit to God that we are nothing and empty without Him.

That we cannot think higher of ourselves then we should.

This morning we will look at- “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”

Could of named the sermon- “criers and whiners” because that is what you first think of...at least this city boy does.

Blessed are those who mourn-“blessed are the criers, those that wear their hearts on their sleeves. The Bully’s delight!

Society with all their emphasis on masculinity put shame to those that show weakness.

Those that would cry at a drop of a hat.

Those that would have compassion for other people.

In fact, the AFLCIO said this week that people do not have to be polite. Don’t have to be nice. They said that our first Amendment rights allows us if we want to, to curse policemen for stopping us and giving us a ticket.

I love the new planet fitness commercial. It shows a great big guy walking through the fitness center as the guide is showing him all the machines. The guide asks “what do you do?” “I pick things up and set them down” repeatedly he says that as the guide is showing him around. He did it to the point that the guide tricks him into exiting out a side door. “This is not your fitness center.”

That is how society treats people showing compassion and having a heart for someone else- “This is not your place.”

A crying compassionate man is someone who lacks courage and/or integrity to hold himself together.

On the other hand, a female, hysterical, emotional, irrational is seen as too sensitive and out of control.

The passage tells us, “Happy are those who grieve? Right? “Happy are those who are sad”? They will be comforted.

I don’t know- call me skeptical. I am careful that weeping is not a manipulative trick.

Our kids shedding a tear to lessen the punishment. My daughter was in her twenties and admitted to me that she would practice in the mirror looking sad and pathetic. She worked hard to get tears to come out. Anyone who has a daughter can appreciate that one.

The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.

We (my daughter and I) were looking in a mirror and laughing about what she used to do. My grown up daughter standing right next to me, and I say to her- “I wonder what I look like with my eyes closed.” I instantly thought to myself- How do I get out of this one? I open my eyes to a hysterically laughing daughter. Back to it!

Fake tears turn us off. Genuine tears shows transparency and a breaking down of some walls

The Greek word for mourn here means “inner grief.” The loss of a loved one. The deep loss of something of great value.

Just think what would happen of our country would squarely face suffering and mourning the way God intended us to instead of burying them in mood altering drugs.

Alcohol,

Cigarette industry

Candy companies would suffer.

Your grocery bill would go down every week.

Can you imagine the Jews sitting on that mountainside, listening to Jesus, expecting Him to change their circumstances and He says – ‘Blessed are those who mourn” “Blessed are the Meek.”

They hated the Romans and wanted that empire crushed!

Romans with their philosophy of “might makes right.”

“The strong survive, the weak are eaten and destroyed”

Here it is in a nutshell! Jesus says blessed are those that have inner grief, for their sins and carry that grief into the lives of those they come around.

The born-again believer who professes Jesus Christ as Lord inherits and possesses the characteristics of Christ.

His deep love for others and his hatred of sin.

The Christian is like a new born baby who does not know how to walk. Yet inside of him is the ability to walk.

As he grows, he learns to walk.

It is about drawing near to God.

James 4:7-10 paraphrased.

“Submit yourselves to God”

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”

“Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up”

We draw close to God because we are sinners in need of God.

We need to be cleansed by God.