Matthew 5:4 KJV
Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 NKJV
Blessed [are] those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 MKJV
Blessed [are] they that mourn! For they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 KJV 2000
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Interlinear KJV
Blessed /makarios/ are they that mourn: /pentheo/ for /hoti/ they /autos/ shall be comforted. /parakaleo/
Commentary
This is the second item in the beatitude. Like the others, it is contrary to the values of the world. While society praises the cheerful, the prosperous, and the lighthearted, Jesus declares that those who mourn are the truly blessed. But this is not mourning in a general or worldly sense. The sorrow He speaks of is spiritual and purposeful—it is godly sorrow over sin, brokenness, and the moral ruin of our own hearts and of the world around us.
These mourners are people who recognize their spiritual poverty and feel sorrowful because of it. They feel the weight of their sin, their distance from God, and the damage sin causes. They lament not only their own failures but also the sin and suffering they see in others. Their mourning is deep, sincere, and driven by a longing for God, for holiness, and for the restoration of what sin has broken (2 Corinthians 7:10; Isaiah 61:1-3).
This mourning may take different forms. It can be the weeping of a conscience awakened to guilt. It can be the sorrow of a heart that sympathizes with the suffering of others. It can be the grief of those who experience persecution for righteousness’ sake, or who are burdened by the moral decay of their times. It can also be the inward struggle of Christians mourning over their shortcomings and longing for greater nearness to God. In all these cases, it is mourning shaped by faith and awareness of God’s holiness.
Christ does not bless all mourning indiscriminately. “The sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Some sorrow hardens the heart, leads to bitterness, rebellion, or despair. However, those who, under the influence of the Spirit, weep over their sins, hunger and thirst after righteousness, and turn to Christ for grace are the blessed ones. These are precious in God’s sight and He brings them joy.
“They shall be comforted.” This comfort is rich, real, and sure. It begins now in the form of God’s forgiveness, peace, and the presence of the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—who assures us of divine love and grace (John 14:26-27). Mourning that leads to repentance is met with the healing word of pardon, the peace of Christ, and the joy of salvation. Even in times of suffering, those who trust and submit to God can find that their grief leads to spiritual growth. (Hebrews 12:10-11).
The comfort for those who mourn extends beyond this life. Though those who mourn do taste joy even now in the midst of sorrow (Psalm 126:5-6), the full measure of comfort awaits us in eternity, when God shall wipe away every tear and sorrow shall be no more (Revelation 21:4). Mourning here prepares the soul for eternal joy there.
This beatitude has a communal aspect. As Christians, we mourn for our own struggles and also the suffering of others. We feel sorrow for those who are lost, for the persecuted church, and for the brokenness in society. This shared sorrow identifies us with Christ, for He is also sorrowful over the state of the world. Having been sorrowful with Him, we have the opportunity to rejoice with Him when all things are renewed.
This beatitude teaches Christians to view sorrow in a spiritual way. We learn that grief, when it comes from faith and repentance, is not a sign of weakness or failure. Instead, it leads to divine blessings. Mourning connects us with God’s mercy and allows His grace to reach us. It may seem paradoxical, but it is deeply true: those who mourn with faith are not overwhelmed; they are uplifted. They are not abandoned; they are brought closer to God. Their sorrow is not the conclusion, but the starting point of joy.