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LOST RIVER CHURCH OF CHRIST | |||||||
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Sermon On The Mount: Blessed Are They That Mournby Lawrence Kelley
We often think of emotions as being beyond our control. We acknowledge responsibility for our behavior, but say we can't help how we feel. But Christ is Lord of all and this includes not only our words and deeds, but also our feelings. The second beatitude brings this into focus. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. We must understand that Jesus is not pronouncing an indiscriminate blessing on all forms of sorrow. Just as the previous blessing was reserved for those who are poor in spirit, so this blessing is for those who spiritually mourn. That is, those who mourn in the right way and for the right reasons. This should be obvious since not all mourning is followed by comfort. There is such a thing as false and deceptive sorrow. For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Cor. 7:10). As Christians we must learn the appropriate emotional response to the things that happen in our lives. First, we must recognize that there is a kind of mourning we are to avoid. DO NOT BE LIKE: Cain, who mourned over the punishment rather than the sin (Gen. 4:13). Pharaoh, who grieved over the fact that he had done right in letting the Israelites go (Ex. 14:5). Ahab, who was overcome with grief because he could not have the vineyard he coveted (1 Kings 21:4). Judas, whose mourning was full of despair (Matt. 27). We must also guard against the temptation which rejects mourning altogether, and drifts into hardness of heart. The modern insistence that we never look back & never admit our wrongs knows nothing of mourning, and consequently nothing of the deep joy which comes to the comforted. If we are not moved by the horror of our sin we cannot understand the joy of salvation or feel the holy comfort of forgiveness. The mourning Jesus requires and blesses here, is described elsewhere in scripture. Godly sorrow is grieved by the things that Grieve God (Eph. 4:30). This includes our own sin, the hardness of heart that results in the oppression and injustice, as well as the world's general rebellion against God. Godly sorrow mourns over the sin, not merely over the consequences (Luke 15:18,21). No doubt the prodigal didn't like consequences of his sin, but more importantly he recognized that putting things right with his father was the primary issue. Godly sorrow results from awareness of particular sins (Ps 38:3-5; Matt 26:74-75). We are frequently too general in counting our blessings and in naming our sins. It is easy enough to admit that we are sinners, but do we grieve over this or that particular sin? Do we even acknowledge or name it? And, God be thanked, godly sorrow brings comfort, as our text promises. This comfort comes in a variety of forms, all of which carry tremendous emotional relief (1Cor 6:9-11; 2Cor 7:10-11; Ps. 30:11-12). Questions For Kids: Does Jesus want us to control our emotions? How should we feel when we disobey our parents? What bothered Cain the most, after he killed his brother? What does God promise to do for those who mourn? |
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