Matthew 5:4
Jesus teaches that those who mourn over their sinful state are blessed, as it leads to repentance and a deeper understanding of God's love and forgiveness.
Chuck Smith explores the beatitude 'Blessed are they that mourn' from Matthew 5:4, emphasizing the contrast between worldly happiness and the Christian pursuit of righteousness. He discusses the misconceptions surrounding mourning, noting that true mourning leads to a deeper understanding of one's sinfulness and the need for repentance. Smith highlights Jesus as the ultimate example of a man of sorrow, who wept for the blindness of others and the state of the world. He concludes that those who mourn over their sins and the world's conditions will find true comfort in Christ, who offers hope and cleansing.
Text
"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN"
Intro: When you think that blessed means "happy" this seems like complete
contradiction.
I. CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN.
A. How unlike the things the world admires.
1. "Poor in spirit."
2. "They that mourn."
a. Mourning to be avoided and shunned.
B. The things they seek.
1. World seeks happiness.
2. Christian seeks righteousness.
II. PROBLEMS WITH THIS BEATITUDE.
A. Affected piety.
1. Equated sadness with righteousness.
2. Dark colors, long faces.
3. Spirituality questioned if you smiled, all doubts
removed if you laughed.
B. Backlash of affected joviality.
1. Look how happy we are.
2. Some cases a giddiness.
Ill. JESUS AS EXAMPLE, "MAN OF SORROW."
A. Wept at tomb of Lazarus.
B. Wept over Jerusalem.
C. Didn't weep because Lazarus dead.
1. Blindness and unbelief of followers.
D. Wept for blindness and missed opportunities.
IV. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN - (3 INTERPRETATIONS).
A. They that go through bitter sorrow.
B. Those who sorrow and mourn over the conditions of the world.
C. Those who mourn over their own sinful state.
1. This is the most accurate of the three.
a. Follows are poor in spirit.
b. Seeing my sin, failure, weakness.
c. When I look at the cross, I see what sin can
do.
V. "THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED."
A. "Godly sorrow leadeth to repentance."
1. Sorrowing over my sin, confession and forgiveness.
2. Comforted by cleansing.
B. Those who mourn over world conditions comforted by hope of
world to come.
C. What hope has the man who does not trust in Christ?
D. True comfort never comes from perceiving your own wretchedness,
but from perceiving Christ.
Sermon Outline
- I. Contrast Between Christian and Non-Christian
- A. World's values vs. Christian values
- B. World seeks happiness, Christian seeks righteousness
- II. Problems with this Beatitude
- A. Affected piety
- B. Backlash of affected joviality
- III. Jesus as Example, 'Man of Sorrow'
- A. Wept at tomb of Lazarus
- B. Wept over Jerusalem
- IV. Blessed Are They That Mourn
- A. Three interpretations
- B. Mourning over one's sinful state
Key Quotes
“BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN” — Chuck Smith
“Godly sorrow leadeth to repentance” — Chuck Smith
“True comfort never comes from perceiving your own wretchedness, but from perceiving Christ” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should strive to have a genuine sorrow for our sins, rather than a superficial display of sadness.
- Godly sorrow can lead to repentance and forgiveness, bringing us comfort and peace.
- True comfort comes from perceiving Christ and His love, rather than focusing on our own wretchedness.