Go! And Be Comforted and Filled - Matthew 5:4,6
Opening Prayer:
Gracious Heavenly Father,
We come before You in need of Your truth, Your comfort, and Your righteousness. Open our ears to hear, our minds to understand, and our hearts to receive all that You want to say to us through Your Word today. May the Holy Spirit guide and convict, and may Jesus Christ be exalted as Lord and Saviour. In His name we pray, Amen.
Matthew 5:4 (NLT): “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:6 (NLT): “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.”
Introduction: A Mountain Message for a Broken World
Jesus begins His public teaching ministry not in a temple, but on a hillside. The crowds gather. The disciples sit close. And the Lord opens His mouth to speak words that turn the world upside down.
These are the Beatitudes—blessings that show us the heart of God’s Kingdom. Today, we focus on two of them. They seem paradoxical: mourning leads to comfort; hunger leads to satisfaction. Yet, in Christ, these paradoxes become promises.
Let’s unpack what Jesus meant, and how these words still speak to us today.
Point 1: Go! And Mourn Over Sin—That You May Be Comforted
Matthew 5:4 (NLT): “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
The Greek word for "mourn" here is pe???? (pentheo)—a deep, internal grief. Not surface sorrow, but soul-wrenching lament. It’s the same word used to describe mourning over a loved one’s death.
In context, Jesus is speaking not primarily of emotional pain from life’s trials—but of spiritual sorrow over sin.
This is not about self-pity. It is godly sorrow—the kind Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT):
“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation.”
“Comforted”: The Greek word here is pa?a?a??? (parakaleo)—to call alongside, to encourage, to console. It is also related to the name Jesus gives the Holy Spirit—“Paraclete”, the Comforter.
God does not leave the repentant mourner in their sorrow—He comes alongside them, comforts, forgives, and restores.
Do you mourn over your sin? Or are you numb to it? Do you grieve not just the consequence of sin, but the offence it is to a holy God?
Only those who recognise the depth of their brokenness can fully appreciate the comfort of divine forgiveness.
John Piper wrote: "Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet."
That resonates with me. Too often we want resurrection joy without crucifixion sorrow. But when we mourn sin deeply, we’re ready to receive Christ’s comfort sweetly.
The Broken Vase
A child breaks a family heirloom. Pieces scatter. He hides in shame. But the parent, instead of punishing, sits down with him, gathers the shards, and together they restore it.
That’s how God treats the mourner. He doesn’t discard the broken. He draws near to rebuild what’s shattered by sin.
Point 2: Go! And Hunger for Righteousness—That You May Be Satisfied
Matthew 5:6 – “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.”
“Hunger” & “Thirst”: The Greek words pe???? (peinao) and d???? (dipsao) convey intense longing—a desperate craving. Not a casual interest, but a consuming desire.
And the word for “justice” in Greek is d??a??s??? (dikaiosyne)—translated elsewhere as righteousness. It means both personal holiness and social justice—living rightly before God and before others.
Psalm 42:1–2 (NLT): “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.”
Just as our bodies cry out for water, our souls cry out for righteousness—and only Jesus satisfies.
John 6:35 (NLT): “Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.’”
Jesus Himself is the righteousness we seek. When we hunger for Him, He fills us with His Spirit, His truth, and His grace.
Tim Keller said: "Jesus is not just the one who gives bread—He is the Bread. The only one who satisfies the deepest hunger of the human heart."
I echo that. In Jesus, we don’t just get better behaviour—we get new hearts. We are not called to perform righteousness; we are called to hunger for Him who is our righteousness.
The Starving Prodigal
In Luke 15, the prodigal son is starving, longing to eat pig food. Then he remembers his father’s house, where even the servants are well-fed.
That’s us—spiritually starving in the far country until grace draws us home. And when we return, the Father doesn’t scold. He celebrates. He satisfies our souls.
The Gospel Proclaimed:
These Beatitudes point us to the cross. Why?
Because Jesus mourned sin—not His own, but ours.
Because Jesus hungered for righteousness—and fulfilled it perfectly on our behalf.
Because Jesus satisfied the justice of God by dying in our place.
Because Jesus rose again, offering forgiveness, comfort, and eternal satisfaction.
Romans 3:22–24 (NLT): “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ… yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight.”
This is the heart of the Gospel. You cannot comfort yourself. You cannot satisfy your soul with your own efforts. But Christ can. Christ has. Christ will.
Call to Action
To the Believer:
Are you mourning over sin—or minimising it?
Are you hungering for righteousness—or feasting on spiritual junk food?
Return to the foot of the cross. Seek the Word. Stay close to the Saviour.
To the Seeker:
You may be feeling a deep emptiness—a hunger, a sorrow, an ache in your soul. That is not random. That is God calling you to Himself.
Today is the day of salvation.
Repent. Believe in Jesus Christ—His death for your sin, His resurrection for your life. And you will be comforted. You will be filled.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you want to begin a relationship with Jesus today, pray with me:
Lord Jesus, I mourn over my sin. I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died for me, and that You rose again. I hunger for Your righteousness. Fill me, comfort me, save me. I trust in You alone as my Lord and Saviour. Amen.
If you prayed that sincerely, tell someone today. Come speak with us. This is just the beginning of a life that is filled and fulfilled in Christ.
Benediction:
As you go into this week,
May you mourn over sin and find the deep comfort of forgiveness.
May you hunger and thirst for righteousness and be fully satisfied in Jesus Christ.
May the Word of God guide you,
The Spirit of God strengthen you,
And the Son of God bless you with His peace.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
