1. At the beginning of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presented "the Beatitudes" (Matthew 5:3-12). 2. In the Beatitudes,: a. Jesus showed how people in different categories will be "blessed" b. Jesus gave His requirements for receiving these blessings. 3. This lesson is a study of the 2nd Beatitude (Matthew 5:4). Discussion: I. WE OCCASIONALLY MOURN IN A GENERAL SENSE
A. Mourn: to experience sadness and grief when we lose someone or something special to us. B. According to Ecclesiastes 3:4, there is "a time to mourn." C. Many Bible characters mourned over their losses, including: 1. Abraham (Genesis 23:1-2) 2. Job (Job 2:11-13) 3. Jesus (John 11:35-36) 4. the widows who knew Dorcas (Acts 9:39). D. According to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, comfort is available when we mourn in this sense. II. IN THIS BEATITUDE JESUS DEALT WITH "MOURNING OVER SIN"
A. Those who mourn over their own sins will be blessed. 1. The 1st Beatitude has to do with being "poor in spirit." 2. A person who is "poor in spirit" is aware of his condition when he sins. 3. His humility leads him to "mourn" over his condition. 4. Bible characters who mourned over their sins include: a. David (Psalm 51:7-12) b. Peter (Luke 22:61-62). 5. A person who mourns over his sins will seek forgiveness from the Lord and is therefore comforted and blessed. 6. To receive this comfort, we must: a. understand what sin is (1 John 3:4; 5:17; James 4:17) b. understand what sin does -- it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) c. allow godly sorrow to lead us to repent (2 Corinthians 7:10) d. seek forgiveness from God (James 4:8-10). B. The sins of others should cause us to mourn. 1. The Lord wants us to be concerned about how sin affects other people. 2. Bible characters who mourned over the sins of others include: a. Ezra (Ezra 9:1-3; 10:1) b. Jesus (Luke 19:41-44). 3. There is joy in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:10). Conclusion:
1. Sin ought to cause us to "mourn" (our sins as well as the sins of others). 2. Mourning over our sins will lead us to seek forgiveness from God. 3. When we receive God's forgiveness we are able to enjoy great comfort. 4. The principles involved in the 2nd Beatitude can basically be summed up in 2 passages: a. Psalm 38:18 b. Proverbs 28:13.