BEATITUDES - LESSON 2

Matthew 5:4-5 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. To mourn is to feel or express sorrow; to lament and grieve over some event or occurrence that is regrettable, such as the bereavement over the loss of a loved one. Many people today seem to think that mournful sorrow is to be avoided if they are seeking happiness. This is far from the truth found in God's word. One can have sorrow in their hearts over many things. The apostle Paul wrote, by inspiration, about two kinds of sorrowful mourning. First, he says, there is godly sorrow, (which) worketh repentance to salvation. Secondly, there is a sorrow of the world, (which) worketh death (2 Cor. 7:10). Most certainly, Jesus is spokeof those in the first instance - those expressing godly sorrow.

Sorrow of the world is sadness, grief, and disappointment that results in mental anguish, depression, and a sense of hopelessness. Such things as the death of a loved one, financial failure or job loss, marital problems that may result in separation or divorce, and any of a number of other problems of life, can result in extreme worldly sorrow. Such sorrow worketh death. The mental and physical strain and torment of sorrow brought about by extreme depression and human failure can, if allowed to do so, result in one becoming "dead," but are still alive - they can become useless to their family, friends, employers, and society as a whole. Physical death is often the final result of the inability to cope with such disappointments of life.

However, godly sorrow is a blessing - it worketh repentance to salvation. The writer of Ecclesiastes, thought to be Solomon, tells us that a household filled with mourning, is better than one filled with feasting, that ...sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better, and that ...the wise reside in the house of mourning, but ...fools reside in the house of mirth (Eccl. 7:2-4). Certainly the sorrow referred to in this passage is that of godly sorrow, because the person is made better;something good;something spiritually beneficial. When one recognizes their own sins, become moved to grief and sorrow, even to tears, and when self-shame convicts the sinner, then, and only then, will they accept God as their Creator, and, by their obedience to his commandments, accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. And finally, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Rev. 21:4). Indeed, we can say with assurance, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. The Christian characteristic of meekness is essential for one to be obedient to God. Search these passages in order to fully realize its importance: Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 3:2, James 1:21& 3:13, 1 Peter 3:4 & 15. Meekness was a characteristic of our Savior (Matt. 11:29, 21:5). As Christians are to emulate Jesus, Himself, meekness must be a manner of life each demonstrates in their conduct. A meek person is one that is patient and mild; one that is not inclined to anger or resentment; one that is gentle, kind, humble, ready to assist others, and often putting the needs of others before their own. Pride, selfish ambition, anger, malice, and vengeance are not found in a person given to meekness. A person guided by a meek character is constantly searching for peaceful conditions among all people.

The end blessing of meek Christians is that they shall inherit the earth. An inheritance is a gift - something unearned and having no self-merit. And earth, as used here,refers to the inheritance of land or "a land." The land of Canaan was the inheritance of the Israelites. They were God's chosen people, and the land of Canaan was His gift to them as their new homeland in which to live. This does not mean that the meek will inherit vast parcels of land and large estates such as the Jewish nation received from God. However, the Promised Land serves as a type of blessing obedient Christians are promised by God. The indication here is that a spiritual land is reserved for the followers of Christ that have a meek disposition and demonstrate it to all around them by their conduct of life. That spiritual land is the kingdom of God - the body of Christ, His church here on earth, as well as the "land" of heaven, the spiritual abode of the saved in the life hereafter. The Psalmist expressed this same thought when he wrote, but the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11). Certainly meekness is a characteristic all Christians should gladly seek, find, and wear.