Those who mourn (Matt. 5:4) recognize the needs and present them to the One who is able to assist.
Three thoughts are presented to explain this beatitude. First, the word mourn is the strongest used of the Greek. This is the deepest sorrow one experiences during a loss. Second, this is mourning for others due to the hardships they experience. This is to have a caring heart for those looked down upon or less fortunate. The last explanation brings together both the extreme loss, care for others, and Jesus’ words in the first beatitude. Man sees His wrong towards God and is repentant, thereby, the focus upon a broken heart before God.
No doubt one recognizes his need and the only One to meet or comfort the need of such brokenness is through Jesus.
It is poverty of spirit that says, “I am undone;” it is the mourning that breaks forth in the form of a lamentation —“Woe is me! for I am undone.”[1]
One may see this passage relating to a person experiencing loss. Jesus’ beatitudes are targeted at both the individual and the community. Specifically, the audience is the community of Israel. Would they as a people be in a period of mourning? No doubt because of the occupation and oppressiveness of the Romans. In fact, such turmoil exists in the land that the people will revolt. Unrest prevails even to the point of feeling like mourning or loss of the promise. Nevertheless, comfort is on the horizon because the King and His kingdom are coming.
You may be experiencing the deserts hot sun and about to die from lack of refreshing water. Would you say that after experiencing the desert, the water becomes that more refreshing? Life is full of mourning moments, talk about Jesus in the role of bringing comfort.
“I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow;
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.” ― Robert Browning Hamilton
[1] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. On spine: Critical and explanatory commentary. (Mt 5:4). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.