Entry
Blessed are those who mourn / Open the door
What did Jesus mean
Jesus comforts you when you grieve.
Where did Jesus say this
Matthew 5:4 (NIV) — from the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Words Behind the Words
Pentheō is the Greek word for mourn. It’s a deep, overwhelming kind of sadness, such as the sadness you feel when you lose someone or even the sadness you feel over the choices you’ve made (or didn’t make). Parakaleō is the Greek word for “called alongside.” Jesus is saying that when you are in a state of grief, he will be next to you, and you will be blessed.
An entry to remember
Blessed: You are living in the kingdom of Heaven and receive love from Jesus.
What Jesus did not mean
Jesus is not saying that just because you are sad you are blessed. He’s saying: work through your grief. He’ll be there with you. And when you reach the other side of that grief, you will feel comfort.
Where to start
Don’t ignore grief. Don’t close the door on it. Open it fully.
When you open the door, you have the opportunity to feel the comfort only Jesus can provide. And that’s the blessing in mourning.
If you shut the door, you miss that opportunity, and you will continue to feel that grief — whether you choose to admit it or not.
Benefits
You will find comfort on all sides of the journey — when you open the door, when you walk through it, and when you find yourself on the other side. For when you are blessed, you are living in the kingdom of Heaven.
Also said as: blessed are those who mourn · they shall be comforted · blessed are they that mourn