A paradox is statement that seems to be contradictory. The beatitude, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4.) is a paradox. How can one be happy or blessed if he mourns? How can happiness (and “happy” does not plumb the depths, nor reach the heights nor stretch broad enough to express the Greek word for “blessed.) be found in grief, or mourning?
To mourn is “to feel or express sadness or distress because of some loss, affliction or misfortune” (Funk and Wagnall’s College Standard Dictionary, p. 750.) From the dawn of history man has grieved because of losses. Though nothing is said about it, surely Adam and Eve must have grieved in the horrible loss of Abel at the hands of Cain, his brother. Jacob said that he would go down to his grave, mourning the loss of his favorite son, Joseph. At the death of Jacob there was mourning 70 days in Egypt. When the funeral procession made up of Joseph, all servants of Pharaoh, elders of Pharaoh’s house, all the house of Joseph and his brethren and father’s house reached the threshing floor of Atad, east of the Jordan River, Moses records that “they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation.” The procession stopped there to mourn another seven days. It became known as Abel-mizraim. At Moses’ death, the children of Israel mourned for 30 days. (Deut. 34:8.) When David learned of the death of his best friend, Jonathan and his father, King Saul, the Bible says that “David lamented with this lamentation….” (II Sam. 1:17ff.) There was sadness at the passing of Lazarus, though joy returned when Jesus raised him from the dead. (John 11.) Women and others bewailed and lamented the pending death of Jesus as they followed the execution party. (Luke 23:27.) Devout men made great lamentation over the death of Stephen. (Acts 8:2.)
The Preacher said, “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” (Ecc. 7:2-4.) Crushed hearts with tearful cheeks are natural in the loss of a loved one. Going to houses of mourning teach us the brevity of life and the importance of preparing for eternity. That is why it is better to go to the house of mourning than a house of feasting. Everyone needs to prepare for death and the judgment to come (Heb. 9:27.)
However, the mourning in this beatitude is not over the loss of a loved one, nor the loss of property nor possessions. It relates the preceding beatitude, and refers to one’s mourning over sin. It refers to one’s grieving or mourning over his sins, or the sins of others. However, the world laughs at sin. Solomon wrote, “Fools make a mock at sin….” (Prov 14:9.) The world derides those who do not drink with them. Peers at school will make fun of one who regularly attends Bible school on Sunday and Wednesday. Sex is not considered sacred by the world. People ridicule those who believe that sexual relations are to be reserved for marriage.
Blessed are they that mourn over their sins. David’s scarlet sin of adultery with Bathsheba ultimately was discovered (2 Sam. 11-12). He had done wrong, but we read of his deep sorrow and penitence in Psalm 51. He tearfully wrote:
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:1-4.)
The mourning over sins may include the mourning over others’ sins. Jeremiah wept over Judah’s sins. (Jer. 9:1-2.) Jesus wept over Jerusalem and what would ultimately happen to her because of her sins (Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:41.) Paul wept and warned concerning false teachers (Acts 20:28-31; Phil. 3:18.
What causes one to mourn over his sins? The word of God can convict us of our sins to cause us to mourn. Paul wrote, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” (Rom. 7:6-7.) Though the law under consideration here is the law of Moses, the New Testament, the law to which all are amenable, convicts men of sin as well (II Tim. 4:2.) Along that same line, if a brother rebukes another brother because he did him wrong, then that would be the word of God’s working through the rebuking-brother (Matt. 18:15-17). “Tell him his fault” means to convict him of his sin. When we study the sinless Son of God, our perfect model, we are caused to mourn for we have fallen short. (1 Peter 2:21; I Cor. 11:1.) It is also the case that when we meditate upon Jesus’ having become a sin offering for us, we mourn because we have fallen far short of the great sacrifice made on our behalf. (Isa. 53; II Cor. 5:21.) The goodness of God leads men to repentance, but that repentance has been brought about by godly sorrow (Rom. 2:4; II Cor. 7:10.)
Why is one blessed who mourns over his sins? Not because it is just good to get it off one’s chest. It is because it will lead him to repent of his sins and be forgiven. Matthew 5:4 parallels Matthew 11:28-30. “Mourn” parallels “heavy laden.” “Comforted” can be equated with “rest” in the same passage.
May each of us never become so hardened by our sins that we will not mourn over them and repent. Then, we shall have true comfort in Christ