Gathering his people to the mountain, the King kindly assures each one of them, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5.1,2,4).

John Stott points out, “It is plain from the context that those here promised comfort are not primarily those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but those who mourn the loss of their innocence, their righteousness, their self–respect.”

Jesus is here making promises to those who know the sorrow of genuine repentance.  As Paul would later say (in 2 Corinthians 7.10), this is the kind of sorrow that leads to salvation without regret.

An old Christian prayer includes this statement:  “We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness.” But, do we?  Do we “bewail” our sins?  I can’t remember the last time I bewailed.  But that’s probably because I still “think of sin but lightly.” I need to sing more…

“Ye who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.  Mark the sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load; ‘tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.”
—Stanza 3, Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

But whether our sorrow for sin approaches bewailment or not, Christ has promised real comfort to those who mourn their sinfulness and repent.  Repentance is not a dry doctrine.  It’s not a threatening, frightening message.  It’s not a morbid form of self–abuse. 

It’s a gift.  It’s a gift which God grants us so that he might lead us into life.  Real life.

And the “comfort” which Christ promises here is the only comfort that can relieve the distress of sin… the free and full forgiveness of God. 

Genuine repentance of one’s sins is nothing less than ultimate honesty, and one hasn’t gotten very far in the Christian life without it. 

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
—The Prophet Isaiah