New Hope Fellowship

Sermon on the Mount: Those Who Mourn

At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus opens with what we call the Beatitudes—statements that describe the character and attitude of those who are truly blessed by God. When Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4), He is not simply speaking of mourning the death of a loved one. This mourning goes much deeper. It begins inwardly—with a grief over our own sin, our failure to live in the holiness God desires. It also extends outwardly—as we mourn the brokenness and sin we see in the world around us. This kind of mourning is not despair, but a heartfelt sorrow that leads us to repentance, compassion, and intercession for others. It’s in this place of honest mourning—both over our sin and the sin of others—that we encounter a supernatural comfort. This comfort is not of our own making, but comes from God Himself, through the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit. He meets us in our mourning by coming along side of us - bringing help, restoration and comfort.