Comfort Through Mourning: Translations and Analysis

1. Lesson # 3

2. Various Translations of Matthew 5:4 • Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (KJV) • God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort! (Common English Version) • Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them! (Good News Bible) • Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. (New American Version) • Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (New American Standard Bible) • Those who are sad now are happy, because God will comfort them. (New Century Version) • Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (NIV) • “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (New Revised Standard Version)

3. The Greek Words of Matthew 5:4 • Blessed 3107are they that mourn: 39965723 for 3754 they 846 shall be comforted. 3870. • 3996 pentheo { pen-theh’-o} - from 3997; TDNT - 6:40,825; v • AV - mourn 7, wail 2, bewail 1; 10 • GK - 4291 { penqevw } • to mourn • to mourn for, lament one • 3754 hoti { hot’-ee} - neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonst. that (sometimes redundant);; conj • AV - that 612, for 264, because 173, how that 21, how 11, misc 212; 1293 • GK - 4022 { o{ti } • that, because, since • Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.

4. The Greek Words of Matthew 5:4 • Blessed 3107are they that mourn: 39965723 for 3754 they 846 shall be comforted. 3870. • 3870 parakaleo { par-ak-al-eh’-o} - from 3844 and 2564; TDNT - 5:773,778; v • AV - beseech 43, comfort 23, exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3, misc 4, vr besought 1; 109 • GK - 4151 { parakalevw } • to call to one’s side, call for, summon • to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc. • to admonish, exhort • to beg, entreat, beseech • to strive to appease by entreaty • to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort • to receive consolation, be comforted • to encourage, strengthen • exhorting and comforting and encouraging • to instruct, teach • Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.

5. The Greek Mood Tense and Voice of Matthew 5:4 • Blessed 3107are they that mourn: 39965723 for 3754 they 846 shall be comforted. 3870. • 5723Tense - Present See 5774 • The present tense represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In most cases this corresponds directly with the English present tense. • Some phrases which might be rendered as past tense in English will often occur in the present tense in Greek. These are termed “historical presents,” and such occurrences dramatize the event described as if the reader were there watching the event occur. Some English translations render such historical presents in the English past tense, while others permit the tense to remain in the present • Voice - Active See 5784 • The active voice represents the subject as the doer or performer of the action. e.g., in the sentence, “The boy hit the ball,” the boy performs the action. • Mood - Participle See 5796 • The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting “-ing” or “-ed” being suffixed to the basic verb form. The participle can be used either like a verb or a noun, as in English, and thus is often termed a “verbal noun.” • Tense Voice Mood, (Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship) 1994.

6. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • The beatitudes as one author puts it succeed one another "like links in a golden chain". • No doubt this arrangement was purposed by Jesus • First Beatitude = Poor in Spirit is a fundamental principle of Christianity • Namely humility • It must be 1st if one is to follow Jesus • One must stop believing in himself and empty himself before he can come to Jesus for cleansing. • The all sufficient man will never come to Jesus out of deep need. • Thus Jesus set down this 1st principle - Blessed are the poor in spirit - blessed are they who cannot trust in themselves but who desperately need God. • NOTE: The relationship which is true of these 1st two beatitudes is true of all 8. • Each individual beatitude is part of each other.

7. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • Humility alone will not suffice us to make the pilgrimage from Satan's service to the feet of Jesus the Christ. • Many people recognize "intellectually" that man is not the center of all of life: but don't really care and thus do nothing about it. When asked they are truly humble in their admission of weakness and frailties, yet life goes on for them. • They need something to go with humility, thus Jesus proclaims this 2nd beatitude which compliments the 1st and works together with it.

8. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted“ • These two ideas are foreign to human understanding. They just don't go together at all. • Most people in the world seek to avoid any "mourning". • The worlds philosophy is to forget about any trouble and the consequences of such trouble. • Mostly, we don't want to focus in on our problems. "Just be happy & enjoy" • Pleasure seekers, are what most of us tend to be. • We spend countless hours, energy & money just to be entertained & do things which we feel bring joy. • Don't talk to me about mourning!!! I want fun & happiness!!! • However, Jesus says, "Happy are you if you mourn."

9. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • Matt. 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.“ • Unless one first possesses the humility of the 1st beatitude, the mourning of the 2nd is not possible. • And, until the mourning of the 2nd is seen clearly, the humility of the 1st is without any life and purpose at all. • Jesus teaches that one must be humble, then come to mourn over the condition of his life, desiring to change it. • The point is that Jesus must capture the entire heart.

10. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • The words used by Matthew and Luke, "mourn" and "weep," are synonymous. • These words literally mean to cry aloud, to shed tears. • "Mourn" expresses deep and grave sorrow. • Luke emphasizes that this weeping is "now." • The paradox of the second beatitude is striking. • The philosophy of the world is "Eat, drink and be merry" (Eccl. 8:15; Lk. 12:19-20). • The world sees no happiness in mourning or weeping, yet Jesus says there can be.

11. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified" (Isa. 61:1-3; See also, Isa. 65:17ff). • How shall godly mourners be comforted and laugh? • In the midst of sorrow, there is a present comfort in knowing that God can and will forgive our sins and remember them no more (Mt. 11:29-30; Heb. 8:12; Mk. 16:15-16). • "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile" (Psa. 32:1-2).

12. An Introduction to Matthew 5:4 • Second, godly mourners can look forward to the comfort heaven and the eternal blessings after this world of sorrow is ended. • The psalmist reminds us, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psa. 126:6). • Although poor and miserable in this world, Lazarus received "comfort" beyond death (Lk. 16:25). • Indeed, the New Testament ends with the promise of comfort and joy in the presence of God, where "the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:3-4). • What great joy is there in knowing that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

13. WHAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN *THREE THINGS* • 1st Every mourner is always blessed • Proof of such is that there are some who mourn and never receive happiness. • Deliberate pessimism is a case in point. • Those who are always miserable • woe is me • Many reverse Paul's statements Phil.4:8 • Negativism

14. WHAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN *THREE THINGS* • 2nd All who mourn the loss of a "loved one" are comforted. • No doubt sorrow in death often brings the reality of God's goodness and love closer to us. • It becomes more real, vivid and actual in our lives. • There is comfort by God • Arabs have a saying "All sunshine makes a desert.“ • Sorrow in death often helps us to turn to God where there is comfort. • However, sorrow over death does not affect all people this way. Some become bitter, rebellious & hardened in the process.

15. WHAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN *THREE THINGS* • 3rd All who mourn over sin are not necessarily blessed. • There are many who mourn over sin but for the wrong reason. • There is no mourning because of a hatred of sin. • Sorrow just for the consequences of sin in ones life will not bring comfort. • Hell is full of mourners. • One must detest the sin & violation of God's will. • Like the first beatitude, Jesus not speaking of all mourners, nor all kinds of mourning.

16. WHAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN *Wordly Sorrow* • Jesus is not speaking of "worldly sorrow" for it only brings death (2 Cor. 7:10). • Worldly sorrow causes some to mourn because they are miserable and self-pitying. • This kind of crying comes from deep selfishness. • Judas had this kind of sorrow. • He was remorseful at being condemned (Mt. 27:3). • He received no comfort or consolation. • Worldly sorrow comes from injured pride. • Tears shed over bruised egos are not those Jesus promises to comfort.

17. WHAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN *Wordly Sorrow* • Haman cried over what he perceived was an affront to himself when Mordecai would not bow down before him (Esther). • Mourning over material loss is not Jesus' subject. • Those of the world set their affections on the things of this world and can be greatly pained with loss. • The rich young ruler went away "sorrowful" because he could not bear to part with his possession (Mk. 10:22).

18. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? What kind of mourning ends in comfort? • Remember the beatitudes deal with spiritual qualities. • Poor in 1st one is spiritual poverty. • Thus, the mourning in the 2nd is spiritual sorrow. • It is mourning that grows out of the realization of Sin in ones life. • It is mourning over the destitution of our spiritual state. • Knowing that "your sins and iniquities have separated between you and your God" is behind this mourning. • NOTE: the contrast that Paul makes in 2 Cor. 7:1O

19. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? What kind of mourning ends in comfort? • NOTE: Acts 2:37 "cut to the heart" & "Cried out" • There is present a sense of guilt for sin. • All who mourn in this fashion will find comfort. • Where is real Christian joy found? • Many seek it diligently, "I would give anything to have joy“ • But, fail to realize it is found only through the conviction of sin. • Jesus lays down an eternal truth to all who hear that conviction of sin is a prerequisite to conversion, entrance into the Kingdom & happiness. • Repentance is an ongoing process. • Due to this fact, we may need to emphasize repentance more than we do.

20. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? What kind of mourning ends in comfort? • The attitude of mourning for sin is seen in Rom. 7:18-2O, 22-24 • Is this not mourning over sin? • Who delivers? Jesus, verse (25) • Every Christian should mourn the problems & sins of his life. Such will cause him to grow out of them. • No doubt then, this mourning is a mourning not to consequences of sin, but that sin has been committed.

21. What kind of mourners does Jesus call blessed? • Those who cry over sin. • All the world's troubles and mourning, as well as our own troubles can be attributed ultimately to sin. • We should be deeply grieved over our own sins. • We should approach God smiting our breasts in grief as the publican (Lk. 18:13; 23:48), • Shedding tears of genuine sorrow over our sins as the Mary who cried at the feet of Jesus (Lk. 7:36-50) • And weeping bitterly as Peter when he had denied his Lord (Lk. 22:62)

22. What kind of mourners does Jesus call blessed? • "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (Jas. 4:8-10). • "Godly sorrow" over sin leads one to repentance and repentance brings one back to God and salvation (2 Cor. 7:9). • We should cry over the sins of others. • God is grieved over the wickedness of men (Gen. 6:5-6). • Likewise, those who are righteous "sigh and cry over the abominations" committed by those around them (Ezk. 9:4; Isa. 61:3; Psa. 119:36; Ezra 9:4).

23. What kind of mourners does Jesus call blessed? • Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, cried for God's people, "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" (Jer 9:1). • Jesus, "the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3) wept over the wickedness of the city of Jerusalem and the judgment that would come upon it (Lk. 19:41; Mt. 23:37).

24. What kind of mourners does Jesus call blessed? • Jesus' second beatitude follows the first beatitude and continues to fulfill Isaiah 61:1-3. • WHAT IT PROMISES "They shall be comforted” • They will be comforted by the knowledge of sins forgiven, removed, taken away. • Mourning over sin moves one to seek the removal of sin by God. • Mourning over sin moves one to join himself to God, where there is comfort. • It is tragic when we loose our sensitivity to sin. • SEE Eph. 4:19 "past feeling“ • We must ask ourselves: • Do I commit sins now that I once refused to tolerate; Do sermons effect me still • Am I stirred by the gospel ; It is a terrible tragedy to loose such spiritual mourning over sin

25. CONCLUSION: • What is your attitude toward sins committed? • If you realize your sin & truly desire forgiveness; you need but accept the gospel, confessing faith in Christ, repenting (as you are in mourning over the sin you have committed), and then being united with Christ in baptism to wash away your sins. • This attitude toward sin brings comfort. • Thus Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn...”

26. Matthew 5:4 • “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” • The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.