Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.Matthew 5:4
What does Matthew 5:4 mean?
Jesus declares that those who mourn are blessed, because they will be comforted. It's a counterintuitive statement — grief itself isn't erased, but named as a place where blessing and comfort meet.
Context
This is the second of the Beatitudes, the opening section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), where Jesus redefines what blessedness looks like — not status or comfort by the world's standards, but qualities like humility, mourning, and mercy. Each Beatitude pairs a condition with a promised outcome.
Key themes
Related Bible verses
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Bible study
- Why do you think Jesus calls those who mourn 'blessed,' rather than simply comforting them?
- How does this Beatitude fit alongside the others (poor in spirit, meek, hunger for righteousness)?
- What grief in your life do you need to bring to God for comfort?
Prayer
A short devotional prayer inspired by this verse — not scripture
Lord, in my mourning, meet me with Your comfort. Thank You that grief is not the end of the story You're writing. Amen.
Memorize this verse
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Share this verse
Frequently asked questions
What are the Beatitudes?
They are the opening statements of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), each pairing a condition — like mourning or meekness — with a promised blessing.
Does this verse mean mourning itself is good?
It doesn't celebrate grief itself, but promises that those who mourn will find comfort — naming a real, painful experience as a place where God's blessing meets people.