Kingdom Living: Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4 CSB

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

INTRO—

Ecclesiastes 7.2-4 “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart. Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.”

[[That’s crazy talk…or is it? First of all, who is it? … ]]

The Beatitudes… [Proper Perspective on our life now and into the future]

…Encourage and CHALLENGE us!

These are promises for those living as Kingdom of heaven citizens…

Colossians 3.1-3 “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Philippians 1.27 “Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. [[Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,]]”

'Kingdom of heaven citizens’ = those who are KINGDOM LIVING because they have KINGDOM LIFE.

This is not merely a do these things (have these attitudes, convictions, priorities) if you want to have x, y, or z in your life. … The Beatitudes are blessed promises (& REMINDERS) to those who have committed to trusting Jesus with their lives and are LIVING for his glory.

SOOO, we started with the “poor in spirit,” now we continue to the next Beatitude...

THE BLESSED ARE “THOSE WHO MOURN”

Matthew 5.4a Blessed are those who mourn…

MOURN — grieve, sorrow (demonstrably, visibly…it’s noticeable)

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount 2. Those Who Mourn (4)

It is plain from the context that those here promised comfort are not primarily those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but those who mourn the loss of their innocence, their righteousness, their self-respect. It is not the sorrow of bereavement to which Christ refers, but the sorrow of repentance.

Isaiah 61.1-2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn,”

Those who mourn over sin and its consequences… [Where does this truth impact us?]

Personally

Psalm 51.4 “Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.”

Psalm 51.17 “The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.”

This is a Christian’s prayer… I have sinned.

We simply cannot dismiss the log in our own eye. We have a significant responsibility to hold ourselves to the standards of righteousness God has set forth in his word. [Our response to sin begins here. There’s no sense in continuing forth in this consideration of mourning sin & its consequences if we are unwilling to confront, mourn our own sin(s). Doing so, we have additional responsibilities when we think about mourning sin & its consequences…]

Corporately [Churches; Christian Ministries]

Psalm 119.136 “My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.”

Ezra 10.6 “Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.”

[[Lord’s Prayer is given with a view to corporate connection: Matthew 6.9-13… “Forgive US OUR debts.”]]

This is the church’s prayer for renewal… we have sinned. [We, the church(es) [Christ followers], have a standard of righteousness & holiness set for us. OUR faithfulness, OUR light shining, requires US to honestly and humbly deal with the sin in our camp. If we will not, we cannot undertake, with any integrity, this additional area of mourning sin & its consequences…]

Community [Culturally;…injustice, immorality—including ethics]

Psalm 119.136 “My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.”

1 Timothy 2.1 “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,”

[[1 Timothy 2.2 “for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”]]

This is the Christians’ prayer(s) for the world around us… “We see the sin—injustice, immorality, hate, abuse—in our world. We ask you to change this…& use us to redemptively stand for truth and what is right.”

If the sin we see around us—homosexuality, transgenderism, racism, abuse, et al.—does not first break our hearts (cause us to mourn…on all biblically faithful levels), then our touted (expressed) anger against sin will simply be selfish, self-preserving hate (you people keep away from me…you people,be gone!).

[[Loving our enemies (Matthew 5.43-47). … “SCOTT, why are you so ‘harsh’ constant on this particular matter?” — Because I have watched myself most of my life…use the ‘calling out these sins of the world, etc.’ as an excuse (a cover), justifying dismissal ((HATE)) of a whole group(s) of people. <<Just seeking to ‘be real’ with everyone.>>]]

THE BLESSED “WILL BE COMFORTED”

Matthew 5.4b …for they will be comforted.

COMFORTED (παρακαλέω; Verb Fut Pas Ind) — consoled, encouraged

They “will receive comfort” (for themselves = both passive & middle) [meaning…the comfort comes from Someone Else—from one who COMES ALONGSIDE (parakaleo like parakletos!) us to help (renew, revive, refocus us).]

Isaiah 61.2-3 “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him.”

COMFORT like:

Renewed relationship with Jesus

Peace with God

Being a brighter city on a hill as a church(es)

Stronger, sweeter fellowship within the church

Glory to God

Enemies slander silenced…relationships formed

Being at peace with all people (in so far as it lies in our power to be)

CONCL—

When considering Isaiah 61.1-3… we must remember what Jesus said:

Luke 4.16-21 “He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.””

Good news!!! You and I—WE—have a Messiah—who has saved us from our sinful selves AND saved us to rightly mourn over sin & its consequences—and who comforts us and will always comfort (come along side of us to renew) us!

INVITATION:

…Salvation

…Recomittment

…Preparation to Participate in the Lord’s Supper

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THE LORD’S SUPPER

The BREAD

1 Corinthians 11.23-24 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””

The WINE

1 Corinthians 11.25-26 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Matthew 5:4 CSB

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.