The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 180

name of a high Christian grace. Those who would be near to him, great in the kin"- dom of heaven, must be like their King, unaffectedly humble. 'l'bey must lay a.side earthly ambitions, they must be willing to take the lowest place, they must learn the difficult lesson, "In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves;" for this is the fixed, immutable law of the kingdom of heaven, "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (3) The reason. "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'· The kingdom of grace is theirs now, in their heart. In their lowliness they have by God's grace pat down self from the throne of their heart, e.nd Christ reigneth there alone. 'l'hey submit themselves to him in deep humility and reverence. The heart that is emptied of self is filled with Christ. The kingdom of glory is theirs by hope, by the sure promise of God. They are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of the heavenly inheritance. The kingdom of heaven is theirs; for the law of that kingdom is written in their hearts, marking them as citizens of the heavenly country, loyal subjects of the heavenly King. 2. The second Beatitude. (1) "Blessed are they that mourn." (a) It seems a paradox. Sorrow and joy are opposed to one another; but the Lord says that there is a sorrow which is blessed. Life is full of sorrows. There fa more sorrow in the world than joy, more pain than pleasure. Outward sorrows are blessed if they are meekly home, in patience and in trustful faith. When the sorrow is recognized as a chastisement, it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness; when the pain is taken as a cross, it lifts the suffering Christian nearer to him who died upon the cross, who giveth peace. (b) But the connection seems to imply that the mourning of the text is spiritual mourning. The poverty of the first Beatitude is in the spirit; so must be the mourning of the second. Poverty in spirit leads to mourning-mourning for past sins and unworthiness, mourning for the slowness of our spiritual progress. He who is poor in spirit is in the kingdom of God and near to the King. He looks on him whom he has pierced, and mourns for him. He must mourn, in sympathy with the Saviour's sufferings, in sorrow for his own unworthiness of the Savionr's love, for his many sins against that great love, for his want of gratitude, for the coldness of his heart. The world runs heedlessly after pleasure, amuscmen t. Tho Lord says, "messed are they that mourn." He himself was "a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." "Is it nothing to you," he seems to say, "all ye that pass by? Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow?" Then we Christians, who live under the shadow of the cross, must learn the blessedness of mourning. " Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of." Blessed are they who mourn with that godly ~orrow. It worketh repentance, that deep and holy change of heart, that change out of the image of the earthy into the image of the heavenly, which is not to be repented of, which none who by God's grace have passed through it can ever regret, though it was wrought out in much sorrow and mourning; for it is unto salvation-a present salvation, salvation from sin now; and a future salvation-everlasting life with God in heavon. (2) The reason of their blessedness. "They shall be comforted." "They"- the word is emphatic. That comfort is not for all; it is for those who have mourned. "God shnll wipe away all tears from their eyes;" but they must have wept, there must have been tears. The mourning is spiritual, so is tho comfort. Christ himself giveth comfort. Ile is the Christus Consolator; he was sent "to comfort all that mourn;" he was the Consolation of Israel for which the holy Simeon waited. "Come unto me," he saith, "all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give yon rest." But there is "another Comforter," whom the Lord will send from the Father to abide for ever with his people-God the Holy Ghost. The first Christians walked in the comfort of the Holy Ghost (Acts ix. 31); we pray that we may evermore rejoice in the same holy comfort. He comforts the hearts of bis chosen, for he strengthens them with all might in the inner man. He fills them with peace and joy in believing; the fruit of his Divine indwelling is love, joy, peace. They shall be comforted who sorrow after a godly sort; now, by the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit; hereafter, by the unclouded vision of the glory of God. 3. The third Beatitude. (1) "Blessed are the meek." Wb.at is meeknoss? According to Aristotle, the virtue which consists in the due regulation of the nat\ll'al passion of anger is without a name ; for meekness does not lie in the mean between the two opposite vices-it tends rather towards the defect. The meek man is not given to retaliate injuries, but rather to forgive; anu it  172 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MA'l'1'J-IEW. [on. v. 1-18,