By Clifton Angel
Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mnourn, for they shall be
comforted” (Matt 5:4). The late V.P. Black organized mourning
into three categories: natural, unnatural, and godly.
Natural mourning is the result of suffering in this world of
decay: “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by
sin; and so death passed upon all men” (Rom 5:12). Many may
assume Jesus is speaking of natural mourning at Matthew 5:4.
Truly God is the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:34) and He knows
and cares about our natural mourning (cf. 1 Cor 10:13; Rev 21:4):
however, at Matthew 5:4, Jesus is not speaking of natural
mourning.
Unnatural mourning includes worldly sorrow, ungodly fear,
and unnecessary guilt. Worldly sorrow is insincere and selfish. If
not repented of, it leads to spiritual death (2 Cor 7:10). It is the
person who is only sorry because he got caught. Ungodly fear is
deceptive, futile, and destructive (cf. Matt 6:25-34; Phil 4:4 9;2
Tim 1:7: Rev 21:8). Unnecessary guilt happens when we will not
forgíve ourselves for something for which we’ve already been
forgíven (cf. 1 John 1:7-9; 3:20). Certainly, it is not unnatural
mourning Jesus is speaking of at Matthew 5:4.
Godly mourning is the result of an honest heart recognizing sin
and the consequences of it (2 Cor. 7:10; Rom. 6:23). It is
connected to being “poor in spirit,” since the person who is poor
in spirit recognizes he is in need when he sins, and he is nothing
without God. King David’s godly mourning is evident in the
words of Psalm 51: “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” (Psalm 51:1-3)
What does it mean to be among them that mourn?
It is the grief felt and expressed over the acknowledgement of
one’s sin and its consequences. The blessing is that with
proper direction, this soul will be comforted. “Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
my yoke is easy. and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).