Short answer: Matthew 5:4 means that those who grieve — over loss, and especially over sin and a broken world — are not forgotten but are promised God's comfort. Jesus calls the mourners "blessed" because mourning that turns to God opens the door to His comfort, both now and fully in the end.
The context: the Beatitudes
Matthew 5:4 is the second of the Beatitudes, the opening lines of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Each Beatitude pronounces God's favor on people the world overlooks — the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful. They form a portrait of the kind of person who belongs to God's kingdom. Verse 4 addresses the grieving, declaring that God's kingdom turns worldly assumptions upside down: even sorrow can be a place of blessing.
What it means, phrase by phrase
The King James Version reads: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
- "Blessed" — The word means favored by God, deeply well-off in His sight. It is a bold thing to attach to mourners.
- "they that mourn" — The Greek word is strong, describing deep grief. In context it includes sorrow over sin and the brokenness of the world, not only over personal loss.
- "they shall be comforted" — The verb is passive: comfort comes to them, from God Himself. The mourner does not manufacture comfort; it is given.
Read alongside the other Beatitudes, this is not a promise that all sadness is good. It is a promise that grief brought honestly before God meets divine comfort — a comfort the self-satisfied never seek.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 — God is "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" (KJV).
- Isaiah 61:2–3 — God comforts all who mourn and gives "beauty for ashes" (KJV).
- Psalm 34:18 — "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" (KJV).
- Revelation 21:4 — God "shall wipe away all tears" (KJV).
How to apply Matthew 5:4 today
This verse dignifies grief rather than rushing past it. If you are mourning, Jesus does not tell you to hide it or hurry it — He calls the mourner blessed and promises comfort. The application is twofold: bring your sorrow to God rather than burying it, and let honest grief over sin lead you to His mercy. The comfort is partly received now, through God's presence and His people, and completed fully in the world to come, where every tear is wiped away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of mourning does Matthew 5:4 mean? In context it includes ordinary grief over loss but especially sorrow over sin and the brokenness of the world. It is grief brought before God, not despair that turns away from Him.
How are mourners "blessed"? Not because sorrow itself is good, but because those who mourn honestly before God are positioned to receive His comfort. The self-sufficient never seek it; the grieving who turn to God find it.
When does the promised comfort come? Partly now — through God's presence, His Word, and the support of His people — and fully in the future, when God wipes away every tear (Revelation 21:4). The comfort is both a present reality and a final hope.