I. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." This, like so many of our Saviour's words, is, as it were, a little parable in itself. As the poor man is with regard to the substance of this world, so is the poor man in spirit with regard to the various attractions of the soul and spirit. It is, as we should say, "Blessed are the unselfish; happy are those who live for others, and not for themselves; happy are those who leave a large margin in their existence for the feelings which come to us from what is above, and also from what is around us. It is well said that theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We do not, perhaps, perceive at once the success of those who are thinking of higher things; but nevertheless, in the long run, it is sure to be theirs. There is a story told of a Welsh chieftain, who, on coming with his followers to a river, said, "He who will be master must first make himself a bridge;" and he carried them, one after another, on his back until they reached the opposite shore. That is what we must do; we must make ourselves the slaves of others, doing their work, securing their interests; if we wish to be in a high sense their lords and masters, we must be all of us in our way servants of the public, not by doing their bidding, but by defending their interests, not by listening to their follies, but by seeking their good.
II. "Blessed are they that mourn." There is in grief a tranquillizing, solemnizing, elevated wisdom, which transports even the most hardened into a region beyond himself. Any one who thinks how greatly he would regret bitter or foolish words or acts against the dead as they lie before him has a constant reminder that such acts and words are against the best spirit of man as he lives and moves among his fellows.
A. P. Stanley, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xix., p. 401.