Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Thesis: Jesus' keys to happiness in the Sermon on the Mount are radically different from the world's standards/ideals for happy living.

The "blessings" of the Beatitudes all point to the kingdom of heaven, not temporary blessings/happiness in the world that are fleeting.

1. Christ's Definition of Mourning

   • Strong, deep agony over self sin leading to repentance
   • Sincere sorrow over sin for offending God
   • Non-repentant grief ~ Judas. Felt bad, but did not repent
   • Example of true sorrow, leading to repentance, leading to obedience - Ezra 10:1-3

2. Mourners of Sin Will Be Comforted

   • God brings mercy to sorrowful sinners (Daniel 9:23)
   • Grievers of sin will not have it held against them (Psalm 32)
   • Mourning for sin is on-going, constant striving towards God's holiness

3. Continual Christian Mourning

   • Putting off sin is daily effort for believer in moving towards Christ-likeness.
   • Remain constant in humility, always deferring to Christ
   • The callous and those who don't consistently mortify sin reveal that they may never have repented to begin with