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Craving Righteousness (Matthew 5:6; Isaiah 11:4-5)

“But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt…
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Satisfied with Righteousness (Matthew 5:6)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Just as our bodies hunger for food, the Christian’s soul should hunger after righteousness. God will feed us.
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The Gentle Yoke (Matthew 5:5; 11:28-30)

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
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Inherit the Land! (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37)

Jesus quoted or paraphrased Psalm 37 when he said “the meek shall inherit the earth.” The “earth” or “land” was an important part of God’s covenant promises with Israel and represents an important part of the Christian’s inheritance.
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Blessed Are the Meek (Matthew 5:5)

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Meakness is not fearfulness, cowardice, or compromise. Jesus’ meekness is compassion and grace undergirded by inner strength.
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Seeking Comfort When Mourning (Matthew 5:4)

I share some final thoughts about Matthew 5:4, particularly about our need to receive comfort during mourning.
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Mourning Personal Sin as a Path to Comfort (Matthew 5:4; James 4:7-10)

The path from mourning to comfort will force us to confront those areas of our lives that do not please God.
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Bringing Comfort (Matthew 5:4; Isaiah 61:1-2)

Jesus came to comfort all who mourn. We, too, are called to minister comfort in His name.
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Blessed Are Those Who Mourn (Matthew 5:4)

Grief takes many forms. We mourn when a loved one dies. Other life-changing events like job loss, sickness, or divorce can bring grief. Christians also mourn over the evil in the world and the sin in their lives.
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Easter: From Mourning to Joy and Hope

Easter celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on the third day following His crucifixion. In His death, He triumphed over our sins. Because of His atonement on the cross, we can freely receive forgiveness and everlasting life. By His resurrection, He triumphed over death. Death does not have dominion over Him. It also…