THE GOSPELS: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: BEATITUDE 2, BLESSED are those who MOURN for they will be COMFORTED

24 April 2026

We are proceeding to study the SERMON of YESHUA on the MOUNT.

We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians. We use the Hebrew letters for the name of God, YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in English is indicated in capital letters in the Scriptures. The reason being that the Jewish writers removed the vowels in God’s name out of fear of transgressing the third Commandment of taking His Name in vain. And today there is a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of His Name.  We also refer to Him as Abba Father and use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

We are studying the second BEATITUDE in Matthew 5:34 where Yeshua taught: “How BLESSED (meaning happy and fortunate) are those who MOURN! For they will be COMFORTED.”

In human terms, this BLESSING may not make sense, so let’s study the Word to understand what our Messiah meant.

Synonyms for MOURNING are sorrow, sadness, grieving, lamenting, weeping, wailing, regretting. It is the feeling of regret or sadness about the loss of something or someone.

SORROW is a part of EVERY ONE’s JOURNEY in life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us for EVERYHTING there is a SEASON and a RIGHT TIME, and specifically in verse 4 we read there is a time: “to WEEP and a time to laugh, a time to MOURN and a time to dance.”

Our UNDERSTANDING and MINDSET about sorrow can derail (disrupt, upset, overturn) our management of sorrow and separate us from God.

Therefore it is VERY important to UNDERSTAND the PURPOSE of SORROW in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:2-5 tells us something about this saying: “Better to go to a house of MOURNING, than to go to a house of feasting, for ALL are destined to be mourned (meaning all people will die), the living should lay this to heart. GRIEF (sorrow, heartache, anguish/ pain) is better than laughter, for SADNESS can IMPROVE (develop) a person. The THOUGHTS of the WISE are in the house of MOURNING, but the THOUGHTS of fools (the unwise) are in the house of pleasure (desire). It is better to HEAR the REBUKES (reproofs, reprimands, warnings) of the WISE than to listen to the songs of fools (the unwise).

The Jewish Study Bible explains: Solomon, the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes, argues that mourning and adversity (hardship, difficulty) are more beneficial (helpful) than the pursuit (chasing) of pleasure, because they bring a measure of WISDOM in contrast to surface (superficial, shallow) pleasures and happiness. It also brings a person face-to-face with the reality of the temporal life on earth. Mourning, which ALL people PREFER to AVOID, could, spiritually (mentally, emotionally) be more beneficial than happiness.

Let us look at a metaphor to help us understand it and put SORROW into perspective. Many people LOVE sunshine and prefer only a FEW days of rain. But think of it, a world with only sunshine will over time turn into a desert with many unwanted consequences including hunger and thirst! We need RAIN for GROWTH and RENEWAL of our earthly resources to have sufficient water supply and food. Likewise, in our LIVES, most of us prefer HAPPINESS and PROSPERITY, but without SORROW from time to time, we will not MATURE and GROW spiritually and will become BARREN, unfertile over time and therefore UNABLE to BEAR the FRUIT of the HOLY SPIRIT.

The WORD of GOD however distinguish between two types of SORROW, namely GODLY SORROW and WORDLY SORROW.

In 2^nd Corinthians 7:9-10 Paul explains: Godly sorrow leads us to TURN BACK to GOD, if we handle our SORROW in God’s WAY (His method and manner, therefore according to His instructions in His Word) and the sorrow will therefore NOT HARM us at all. This is because “Pain handled in God’s way produces a TURNING from SIN to GOD which leads to SALVATION (redemption/ recovery, deliverance/ freedom), and there is nothing to regret in that! But pain handled in the world’s way (meaning the worlds method’s and manner) produces ONLY DEATH.”

And we know the world’s way to handle pain are things ranging from numbing pain with addictions to legal and illegal drugs, alcohol, gambling and looking for love and acceptance in relationships, including immoral sexual relationships and pornography to retaliation (seeking revenge, fueled by hate) that can end in harming other people’s reputation with the tongue and even result in murder (which is hate of other’s) and or committing suicide (which is hate of self). ALL of the world’s way therefore leads to DESTRUCTION and DEATH as Paul explained.

The WORD also tells us about the SORROW of the WICKED (those committing deliberate sin and therefore  moral corruption/ dishonesty/ fraud, depravity/ immorality/ evil and malice/ hatred/ meanness/ nastiness/ cruelness).

WORDLY SORROW of the WICKED

We read in Psalm 1:6, the WAY of the wicked is DOOMED (hopeless/ despairing, ruin/ devastation/ destruction), they are ENSNARED (trapped) in the work of their own hands (therefore indicating their own decisions and resulting action) according to Psalm 9:17. And Psalm 32:10 says the wicked have many TORMENTS (pain). And evil WILL kill the wicked according to Psalm 34:21.

And Proverbs 13:6 says WICKEDNESS BRINGS DOWN the SINNER and Proverbs 24:16 says the wicked stumble when calamity (disaster, tragedy) strikes – therefore WICKEDNESS has DESTRUCTIVE POWER that will ultimately lead to DOWNFALL and DESTRUCTION of a person who chooses it. The wicked will therefore face the consequences of their actions, as Isaiah 3:11 put it: “…woe (grief, distress, despair) to the wicked, it will go badly with him; for what he has done will be done to him.”

And Isaiah 57:20-21 tells us there is no rest for the wicked. And Yeshua our Messiah confirmed in Mark 7:21 that the source of wickedness and evil deeds comes from our evil thoughts darkening our hearts as Paul says in Romans 1:21. And we see in Genesis 6:5-7 God’s HEART was GRIEVED (saddened) because of all the wickedness of the people on the earth and their hearts being always evil and for this reason He decided to wipe them out with the flood, except for Noah and his family (a total of eight people).

But ALWAYS REMEMBER 2^nd Peter 3:9, GOD does not  wish that anyone should perish, but that they should reach REPENTANCE and therefore there is always HOPE, even if we or a loved one are maybe now caught up in WORLDY SORROW due to own choices of worldly ways to handle our pain. We see in the history of one of the most wicked kings, king Manasseh from the tribe of Judah an example of a person forsaking his wicked ways after experiencing GREAT DEFEAT and SORROW at the hands of his enemies and then turning back to God and God forgave him and re-established his kingdom. And as we know, even king David committed adultery and murder and after REPENTING God forgave him, although he had to live with the consequences of his actions, which is a fact for all of us, confirming the principle in the WORD of what we SOW, we WILL REAP.

We read in 2^nd Corinthians 12:7-10 about GODLY SORROW as a “thorn in the flesh” of Paul, a messenger of the Adversary (Satan) to pound away at Paul with the purposes of keeping Paul from becoming prideful due to the extent of revelations God gave to Paul. And these afflictions included:

• Weakness (feebleness, frailty)
• Insults (verbal abuse)
• Hardships (suffering)
• Persecutions (harassment, oppression, pursuit, torment) and
• Difficulties (problems, worries, troubles).

Paul asked God three times to take these afflictions away from Him, but God told Him His grace is enough for Paul to endure it, and then Paul accepted it because he understood the reason was to keep him humble and out of evil’s way by protecting him against pride and boasting and He realized that it was not in his power that he was rendering service to God but in Messiah Yeshua’s power resting on him and also strengthening him to deal with his afflictions. 

YESHUA our MESSIAH is also our greatest example of sharing in our SORROW and managing it in God’s way.

We read in Isaiah 53:3-5 “People despised (hated, scorned, rejected) and avoided Him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, He was despised; we did not value Him. In fact, it was our disease He bore, our pains from which He suffered; …stricken and afflicted by God…He was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the discipline that makes us whole fell on Him, and by His bruises we are healed.”

And we read in Hebrews 2:9-10 the reason for His suffering: “…Yeshua – who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels – now crowned with glory and honor because HE SUFFERED DEATH, so that by GOD (the Father’s) GRACE He might taste death for all humanity. For in bringing many sons (believers) to glory, it was fitting that God (the Father), the CREATOR and PRESERVER (Protector, Guardian, Savior)  of everything, should bring the INITIATOR (Originator) of their DELIVERANCE (rescue, freedom) to the GOAL through SUFFERINGS (sorrow, grief, pain).

And Hebrews 12:2 tells us we have to look up to YESHAU the INITIATOR and COMPLETER of our FAITH: “…who in exchange for obtaining the JOY set before Him, ENDURED execution on the cross as a criminal, scorning the shame, and HAS SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE GOD (THE FATHER). Yes, think about Him who ENDURED such hostility against HIMSELF from sinners, so that you don’t grow tired or become despondent (hopeless, despairing, downhearted).”

And we are COMFORTED with Isaiah 35:10 saying: “Those RANDSOMED (for whom the price was payed for their release from captivity) by YHVH will RETURN and come with singing to Sion (Jerusalem), on their heads will be EVERLASTING JOY. They will acquire GLADNESS and JOY, while SORROW (mourning, grief, sadness) and SIGHING (complaining and dissatisfaction) will flee (run away) from them.”

We can experience different types of SORROW, like:

SORROW as part of the DISCIPLINING PROCESS of GOD

We read in Lamentations 3:31-32 “For REJECTION by YHVH does not last forever. He may cause GRIEF, but He will take pity, in keeping with the GREATNESS of HIS GRACE. For He does not arbitrarily (indiscriminately/ without reason) torment or punish (discipline) human beings.

Psalm 30:5 tells us: “His anger is momentary (brief, temporary), but His FAVOR (kindness) lasts a lifetime.”

Hebrews 12:11 says: “…ALL DISCIPLINE, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been TRAINED BY IT, it later produces its PEACEFUL FRUIT, which is RIGHTEOUSNESS.

John helps us to understand RIGHTEOUSNESS by saying in 1^st John 3:7 “…it is the person who KEEPS ON DOING what is RIGHT (according to what is written in the WORD of GOD) who is RIGHTEOUS, just as GOD is RIGHTEOUS.

David explains it as follows in Psalm 119:67 “before I was HUMBLED (AFFLICTED), I used to go astray; but NOW I OBSERVE YOUR WORD.” And he says in verse 71: “It is for my GOOD that I have been HUMBLED; it was so that I would LEARN YOUR LAWS.”

The disciplining process of God leads us to:

SORROW over our OWN SIN

We learn important PRINCIPLES about sin in the First Book of John. John says in 1^st John 1:10 “If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making Him out to be a liar, and His WORD is not in us.” And in 1^st John 3:3-6 he says: “And everyone who has his HOPE in HIM continues PURIFYING himself, since GOD is PURE. Everyone who KEEPS sinning is violating Torah (the Word of God as written in Genesis to Deuteronomy and summed up in the Ten Commandments) – indeed, sin IS violation of Torah. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. So no one who remains UNITED with HIM continues sinning; anyone who does continue sinning has neither seen Him nor known Him.” And in verse 8 John concludes: “The person who keeps on sinning is form the Adversary (Satan), because from the beginning the Adversary (Satan) has kept on sinning.” This is therefore referring to WILLFULLY (KNOWINGLY) or DELIBERATELY (INTENTIONALLY) sinning against God’s WORD in a REBELLIOUS way. Paul confirms this in Ephesians 2:2.  And in 1^st John 5:18 John says: We know that everyone who has God as his Father does not go on sinning; on the contrary, the Son (Yeshua the Messiah) born of God protects him, and the evil one (Satan) does not touch him.” REMEMBER in order for Satan to “tough” us, we have to give him permission by opening a door to him in our lives through WILLFUL/ DELIBERATE SIN. God already explained this to Cain in Genesis 4:7!

AND THIS SORROW over our SIN will LEAD to REPENTANCE and RIGHT STANDING with GOD

It is therefore IMPORTANT to understand ONLY through accepting the price Yeshua our Messiah paid for our sin with His own BLOOD, we can become born again children of God the Father and ONLY through DAILY REPENTANCE we can KEEP LIVING in the LIGHT in FREEDOM from the bondage of sin and free from experiencing fear, guilt and shame because of sin (read 1^st John 1:8-9).

And that is what Proverbs 24:16 means saying: for though the righteous fall seven times, he will get up again. We can therefore see, being RIGHTEOUSS does not mean we are sinless because nobody on earth is, but it means we DAILY acknowledge our ACCIDENTAL (UNINTENTIONAL/ UNPLANNED) SINS and REPENT of it and TURN from it with the help of the Holy Spirit in us. And the more we do it, the move we will OVERCOME sin.

David declares in Psalm 38:18 “For I am about to fall, and my PAIN is ALWAYS with me. I acknowledge my GUILT, I am anxious (worried, concerned) because of my sin.

In Psalm 51:17 we read “My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God, you won’t spurn (reject) a broken, chastened (humiliated) heart.

And in line with this Psalm 34:17-19  says: The RIGHTEOUS cry out to YHVH and He heard and saved them from all their troubles. YHVH is near those with BROKEN HEARTS; He saves those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person SUFFERS many evils, but YHVH rescues him out of them all (also read Psalm 147:3).

In Matthew 3:8 John the Baptist tells the Pharisees and Sadducees: “If you have really TURNED from your sins TO GOD, PRODUCE FRUIT that will PROVE IT!

In Acts 5:31-32 Peter says to the Sanhedrin (the Jewish Court), who tried to prohibit the apostles to teach in the Name of Yeshua: “God (the Father) has exalted this MAN at HIS right hand as RULER and SAVIOR, in order to enable ISRAEL (meaning: every person who accepts Yeshua the Messiah as their Savior) to do TESHUVAH (REPENTANCE) and have their sins FORGIVEN. We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), whom God (the Father) has given to those who OBEY HIM.”

When the Jewish believers (people from the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin) heard from Peter that Cornelius, a centurion (a commander in the Roman army) in the Italian Regiment and his family accepted Yeshua as their Messiah and were baptized and received the Holy Spirit, they said: “This means that God (the Father) has enabled the Gentiles (people not from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) as well to DO TESHUVA (REPENTANCE) and HAVE LIFE! (Read Acts 11:18). It is therefore clear REPENTANCE LEADS TO LIFE.

And we read in Acts 17:30 Paul explained to the Greeks in Athens: “In the past, God (the Father) overlooked such ignorance (unawareness, lack of knowledge) but NOW HE is COMMANDING ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE to TURN to HIM from their SINS.

Paul explains in 2^nd Corinthians  7:10-12 that PAIN handled in GOD (the Father’s) WAY produces a TURNING from SIN  with earnest (serious, intense) diligence, eagerness to clear yourself, indignation (to be angered by injustice), (godly) fear , longing, zeal (enthusiasm/ passion), readiness (willingness) to put things right, proving yourself blameless (innocent, righteous, living live according to the will and Word of God), encouraging (inspiring) and devotion (dedication, commitment) to fellow believers.

And James tells is in James 4:8-10 “Come close to God (the Father) and He will come close to you. CLEAN your hands, sinners; and PURIY your HEARTS, you DOUBLE-MINDED people! (meaning people wavering between two options, unable to take a decision, unstable in their faith, lacking commitment to God). WAIL (cry), MOURN (grief), SOB (weep)! Let your laughter be turned into MOURNING and your joy into GLOOM! HUMBLE yourselves before the MASTER (Yeshua) and HE will LIFT you up.”

And in Revelation 2:5 Yeshua warns the Messianic Community of Ephesus to TURN from their sin otherwise He will come and REMOVE their MENORAH (LAMPSTAND). We read in Proverbs 20:27 the human spirit is a LAMP of YHVH. So therefore, it may mean removing them from His presence if they do not REPENT.

Then there is also:

SORROW over FAMILY and FELOW BELIEVER’s SIN

In Psalm 119:136 David says: “Rivers of tears flow down from my eyes because they don’t OBSERVE your Torah”

We read in Luke 19:41 Yeshua coming closer and seeing the city of Jerusalem and weeping over it, saying: “If you only knew today what was needed for shalom (peace)! But for now it is hidden from your sight. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will set up barricades around you, encircle you, hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within your walls, leaving not one stone standing on another – and all because you did not recognize your opportunity God (the Father) offered you!

We read in 2^nd Corinthians 12:21 Paul mourns over sin of fellow believers who have not repented of their past sins of impurity, fornication and debauchery (wickedness, sin, depravity/ immorality/ corruption) that they have engaged in.

And we may also experience

SORROW over the SIN of the WORLD

We read about this type of sorrow in 2^nd Peter 2:7-10 where Peter explained  that Lot, a RIGHTEOUS man was distressed by the debauchery (wickedness, sin, depravity) of the unprincipled (corrupt, immoral) people of Sodom, for their wicked deeds, which he saw and heard as he lived among them, tormenting (grieving) his righteous heart day after day.  

Then there is:

The SORROW over SICKNESS

We know our bodies age and are temporary, Paul says in 2^nd Corinthians 5:1-2 For in this tent, our earthly body, we groan with desire to have around us the home form heaven (referring to our resurrected eternal bodies) that will be ours upon the Second Coming of Yeshua our Messiah.

And:

The SORROW over DEATH

We read in Psalm 116:15 From YHVH’s point of view, the death of those faithful to Him is costly. God therefore values the LIVES and DEATHS of His faithful followers.

We read in John 11:33-35 Yeshua saw the grief of the people mourning the death of Lazarus and it moved His heart deeply and He cried, even though He knew He was going to resurrect Lazarus. This shows us the empathy of our God for our sorrow when our love ones die.

Yeshua however also reminded Martha of the FIRST RESURECTION of BELIEVERS in HIM that will take place at His Second Coming, saying that those who believe in Him will NEVER DIE.

Paul also encouraged believers with this fact in 1^st Thessalonians 4:13-18.

We also take COMFORT in the fact that we know that God will ultimately defeat and eradicate all DEATH (Read Isaiah 25:8, 1^st Corinthians 15:26 and Revelation 20:15 and 21:4).

SORROW therefore has a PURPOSE when we manage it in GOD the FATHER’s WAY, helping us to GROW and MATURE as BELIEVER in HIM.

We read in Romans 5:3-4

• Trouble (distress, suffering) produces ENDURANCE (durability, toughness, strength, resilience)
• ENDURANCE produces CHARACTER (the mental and emotional qualities of a person)
• CHRACTER produces HOPE (confidence, faith/ trust/ belief)
• And this HOPE does not let us down, because GOD, the Father’s LOVE has already been poured out in our HEARTS through the HOLY SPIRIT who has been GIVEN to us.

Peter says in 1^st Peter 1:6-7 “REJOICE in this, even though for a little while you may experience grief in various trials. Even GOLD is TESTED for GENUINENESS by FIRE. The PURPOSE of these trials is so that your TRUST’s (FAITH, BELIEF, HOPE) GENUINESS, which is far more valuable than perishable GOLD, will be JUDGED worthy of praise, glory and honor at the revealing of Yeshua the Messiah.” Also read 1^st Peter 5:10.

And Paul says in 2^nd Timothy 2:12 “If we PERSERVERE, we will also RULE with HIM (referring to the Messianic Kingdom during the Thousand Year Reign of Peace)”. Also read Revelation 20:4-6.

We may also experience:

The SORROW of TRIBULATION (trial, suffering, testing)

In John 16:33 “In the world you will have TROUBLE (distress, suffering) But BE BRAVE (courageous, fearless)! I have conquered the world!

In 2^nd Timothy 2:3 Paul tells Timothy: “Accept your share in SUFFERING disgrace (shame, dishonor, humiliation) as a GOOD SOLDIER of the MESSIAH YESHUA. He also encourages Timothy by saying to him in verses 8-9 that Yeshua the Messiah was RAISED from the dead, and this is the GOOD NEWS he is proclaiming and for which he is SUFFERING to the point of being bound in chains (remember Paul was often thrown into prison due to spreading the Gospel and then he says) – but the WORD of GOD (the Father) is not bound in chains!” And then Paul explains that he is PERSEVERING for the sake of those who must still obtain the DELIVERANCE that comes through the Messiah Yehuha, with eternal glory.

In James 1:2-3 we read: “Regard it ALL as JOY, my brothers (fellow believers), when you face various kinds of TEMPTATIONS; for you know that the TESTING of your TRUST (FAITH, HOPE, BELIEF) produces PERSEVERANCE (persistence, tenacity, steadfastness, self-control, determination/ strength of mind/ strength of character).

We read in Hebrews 4:15 that Yeshua our HIGH PRIEST is able to empathize with our weaknesses since He was in every respect TEMPTED just as we are, the only difference being that HE DID NOT GIVE IN TO THE TEMPTATION, therefore HE DID NOT SIN.

In Revelation 2:10 Yeshua says to the Messianic Community of Smyrna: “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to SUFFER. Look the Adversary (Satan) is going to have some of you thrown into prison, in order to put you to the TEST; and you will face an ordeal for TEN DAYS. REMAIN FAITHFUL, even to the point of death; and I will GIVE you LIFE as your crown (referring to eternal life).

And believers may also face:

The SORROW of PERSECUTION

Yeshua our Messiah warned us in Matthew 10:21-22 there will be severe PERSECUTION before HIS SECOND COMING, “A brother will betray his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will HATE you because of ME, but WHOEVER HOLDS OUT TO THE END WILL BE PRESERVED FROM HARM.” And He then encourages believers to flee from town to town until He comes.

We are COMFORTED in PERSECUTION with the words of Isaiah 43:2 promising us that just like in the case of the persecution of Daniel’s three friends Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3, being thrown into the fiery furnace and fully protected by God, He will be with us when we pass through water and through rivers, they will not overwhelm us, and when we walk through fire, we will not be scorched by the flames.  

Also REMEMBER God warns us in His WORD in Proverbs 24:17-18 not to rejoice when our enemy’s fall and not to let our hearts be glad when they stubble for YHVH might see it and it will displease Him. REMEMBER HE IS A RIGHTEOUS GOD and hates all evil and we are not allowed to fight evil with evil in our hearts.

And in Ephesians 6:10 we are encouraged to grow POWERFUL in UNION with Messiah Yeshua and HIS MIGHTY STRENGTH and to use ALL the ARMOR and WEAPONARY that God (the Father) provides to us to STAND against the deceptive tactics of our spiritual enemy, Satan and his evil forces.

And we have the assurance in the Prophets and the Book of Revelation that God will wipe out all evil at the end.