The Mourners and the Meek
JASON MARTIN
Jesus in the Gospels / Matthew 5:4–5; Psalm 37
Who are the mourners and the meek?
Similar to the poor in spirit, the mourners and the meek carry a variety of meanings but still the same train of thought.
1. Recognize our poverty of spirit
2. Mourn over sin and its consequences
3. Be willing to submit to a higher Authority
Happy are the sad?
1. Types of mourning;
a. We mourn loss. Sometimes we mourn the loss of things.
i. The world says happiness and contentment come from ‘things’. ‘He who has the most stuff wins.’ If we live like that, we can go from ultimate happiness to ultimate despair with just the change of a circumstance - and it can happen repeatedly. But Christians have joy - which is different.
1. The world = Matthew 16:26 “26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
2. Christians = 1 Peter 1:8 “8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”
b. That doesn’t mean there won’t be sadness on this side of Heaven. We live in a fallen world and we should help carry each others burdens.
i. Romans 12:15 “15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
c. We should mourn our own sin and also the sins of the world and its consequences.
d. Isaiah 53 calls Jesus ‘a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief’
e. The 2 major times Jesus cried were;
i. He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead and still He cried and felt compassion and sorrow for the pain caused by sin and death.
1. (John 11:35 is the strongest word for mourning in the Greek language. It was not something small)
ii. He cried over Jerusalem when they rejected God’s offer of peace and restoration that brought about judgment and destruction. (Luke 19:41)
Meek, not weak
Biblical definition of meekness: Strength under control, representing power, gentleness, willingness to submit to authority, willingness to suffer wrong without bitterness or revenge, and deliberate humility rather than weakness or timidity.
1. Do we trust the Lord, or do we look for our own vengeance?
a. Romans 12:17–19 “17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.””
2. How did Jesus show meekness?
a. Riding a donkey instead of a warhorse into Jerusalem (Matt 21:5)
b. Washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:4-15)
c. Didn’t defend Himself against false allegations during His trial (Matt 27:12-14)
d. Didn’t call down twelve legions of angels (Matt 26:53)
e. Matthew 11:28–30 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
3. Meekness can mean confessing our sins and naming them. Are we humble enough to do that or are we stubborn and hang on to them, unwilling to submit.
Comfort & Inheritance
1. Mourning is meant to be a pathway, not a destination
a. Revelation 21:4 “4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
2. Psalm 37:11 “11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” (Psalm 37:1-18)
a. 1-Don’t envy the wicked, they will wither
b. 3-Instead, trust YHWH and do good.
i. The trust is accompanied by the action (if you do, you will)
c. 4-delight, desire - He will give Himself to us - if that’s what we want (our delight)
d. 5-6-Now our trust is accompanied by God’s actions (He brings forth our righteousness)
e. 7-11-Don’t concern ourselves with the prosperity of the wicked, their end is death. But the meek one who waits patiently for the LORD will inherit a peaceful Earth
f. 12-13-enemies of God will work against the people of God - but their days are numbered
g. 14-15-often their own weapons will be the tools of their own destruction
h. 16-17-the wicked broken arms can’t carry their earthly treasure. They have lost all their strength. But the LORD Himself upholds the righteous
i. 18- not sinless, blameless. Our inheritance is forever.
3. Inheriting the Kingdom of God / Heaven includes inheriting the Earth.
a. We gain this inheritance when we become children of God, we forfeit it if we are children of the devil (John 1:12)
b. The wheat will be gathered to the Lord’s “barn / storehouse” but the tares and the weeds will be gathered to be burned (Matthew 13:24-30)
c. The sheep gain the ‘Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world’. The goats go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:31-41)
d. The conquerors receive the Tree of Life, the cowards have their portion in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. (Rev. 21:7-8)
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 1:12 PM September 14, 2026.