Beatitudes discussion, part 2: Blessed are those who mourn...

[Agaliha]

To keep things going, the next Beatitude...

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Most translations echo that sentence, but a few differ:

Bible in Basic English (http://basicenglishbible.com/matthew/5.htm)
Happy are those who are sad: for they will be comforted.

International Standard Version (http://isv.scripturetext.com/matthew/5.htm) (©2008) (http://isv.org/)
"How blessed are those who mourn, because it is they who will be comforted!

http://bible.cc/matthew/5-4.htm -- other translations and a few short commentaries.

An article/commentary about the passage: http://bible.org/seriespage/blessed-are-those-who-mourn-matthew-54


Discuss! :)

[Bix]

I take that as a message in faith. When you mourn or grieve, the loss of a person or thing, you seek out comfort. I think this passage is telling you to seek out God in your times of trouble and you will be comforted by His presence.

[LacyRoze]

A dear elderly woman I know gave me her translation of this and it has stuck with me.

Blessed are those who show compassion, for they will be shown compassion.
Blessed are those who give comfort, for they will be given comfort.

[john.a]

I think we're supposed to mourn the evil that exists in the world and the evil that exists in us and our fellow man. Once, we confront sin, we see how ugly it is - how much of a distortion of creation it is. I think those who see its true, undisguised ugliness will mourn because its might and its power make it seem that it is hopeless and impossible to be good...

... however this is a beatitude because once we truly see how ugly sin is, then only can we TRULY be comforted by God and his cross. I mean, it's one thing to know "sin is bad" and "Jesus' cross has saved me from sin" but it's another thing to completely loose yourself in sadness at what sin is and then be truly, ecstatically comforted by the great sacrifice.

It's a beatitude because we only, truly appreciate His sacrifice when we mourn.

[Bix]

Wow, I never really thought of truly mourning the sin in the world. That's kinda an eye opener to me.