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Blessed Are
Those Who Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness
Matthew 5:6
We're
continuing our discussion on the Sermon on the Mount,
focusing on the Beatitudes. We have covered the poor in
spirit, those who mourn, and the meek. We're examining verse
six: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be filled." As an
introduction, we acknowledge that the problem with this
world is sin; we don't live in a sick society, but a sinful
one. The solution to all our problems is righteousness,
living a righteous life. This beatitude emphasizes how
righteous living can enhance our lives and the lives of
everyone around us. Proverbs 14:34 reminds us that
righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people. In this beatitude, we will explore what
righteousness truly means and what it can bring to us.
First, it says, "Those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness." In the first century, people in Palestine
were all too familiar with hunger and thirst because finding
water was not as easy for them as it is for us. Many lived
on the edge of starvation, understanding hunger and thirst
more deeply than we do today. Hunger and thirst imply a
strong desire for something; in this case, we are to hunger
and thirst for righteousness. This indicates that great
effort, zeal, and diligence are involved.
It’s not
just a normal desire but a passionate longing for something
you want intensely and consistently. You do not seek this
once a week on Saturday or Sunday but every day. Jesus
reminds us in some of his conversations that we are what we
eat. Let’s look at a couple of passages in the Gospel of
John. First, if someone could read John 4:14: "A fountain of
water," which states that whoever drinks of this water I
will give him will never thirst again. This refers to a
spiritual drink. Then, Chapter 6 conveys something similar.
In John 6:35, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life. He who
comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me
shall never thirst." Jesus makes it very clear that He is
the source of life. When discussing hunger and thirst, we
refer to a deep desire for Him and what He offers us so
profoundly that we cannot live without Him.
That’s what
He wants us to understand; we can't live without Him. Hunger
and thirst are frequent appetites; you're hungry and thirsty
every day. You can't just eat or drink once a month, or you
will die. Jesus emphasizes that this is something we need to
pursue continually. We require a constant supply of food and
water, highlighting that this longing must be consistent. If
your soul wants to thrive, it needs this regular nourishment
of righteousness. Again, Jesus speaks about an intense
longing—it's not something you experience just once a week
for an hour. That won’t sustain you for living. One person
referred to this as a passionate concern for what's right;
this is being zealous. This is why we have to strive for
more than anything else: the road to Heaven is challenging.
Matthew
7:13 and 14? This passage is toward the end of the Sermon on
the Mount in Matthew 7:13 and 14, and see that road. If we
travel it, we must feed on Christ and His righteousness. We
must have this passion; we aren’t going to make it on that
narrow, difficult way unless we genuinely desire it. In
other words, we aren’t going to accidentally or easily
navigate that path. The Bible says that only a few will be
saved on the Day of Judgment, as Jesus stated. Only a few
truly strive to reach heaven, and that's where we need to
cultivate a passionate desire, zeal, and intense longing. We
must embody all of that. The Bible is full of individuals
who hungered and thirsted for the wrong things. Take the
rich fool, for instance; he declared, "My barns are full,
I'm just going to eat, drink, and be merry." That was his
hunger and thirst. In 2 Timothy 4:10, it notes he hungered
and thirsted for this present world, and that's likely what
most people pursue.
We can seek
righteousness freely. Before we go any further, would
someone please read Luke 8:4? Luke 8:14 states, "And that
which fell among thorns are they, which when they have
heard, go forth and are choked with the cares, riches, and
pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."
See, that's what they were hungering and thirsting for: the
things of this world, the riches, and the pleasures of this
life. So now, let's turn to what righteousness truly is.
Now, the Pharisees had their own interpretation of
righteousness, and it was entirely outward. In other words,
it was something they displayed. They would wear little
boxes on their foreheads with verses in them, dress in
certain clothing, and stand on street corners to recite
their lengthy prayers. Their righteousness was merely a
public display; that's all they did. Many Jewish people,
especially the Pharisees, followed the rules because it was
expected, not necessarily because they believed in them.
They just went through the motions without any genuine hope
or desire behind it. The word translated here in verse six
as righteousness has several definitions. It refers to what
is right, justice, the act of doing what aligns with God's
standards, and the state of being in a proper relationship
with God. One person defined it as ethical rightness.
Would
someone please go back to the Old Testament and read Ezekiel
33:13? Ezekiel 33, verse 13. Okay, the person who trusts in
his own righteousness will die in that righteousness. Now
let's turn to the New Testament, to 1 John 3:7. 1 John 3,
verse 7. Little children, let no man deceive you; he who
does righteousness is righteous, just as He is. There are
many points here, but notice a few things: righteousness is
about action. It's not just a feeling or an emotion; it's
something you do. Righteousness involves following Christ;
in other words, it means doing what He did in His life. This
is something positive, something good; it's doing what God
wants you to do. So again, it's a positive concept. You can
be righteous only if you have followed God and received
justification. In other words, you must have your sins
forgiven to be considered righteous. Now, would someone read
Romans 1, verses 16 and 17? "For I am not ashamed of the
Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who
believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, for in it
the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith..."
What it means to be righteous in God's sight is revealed in
the Gospel.
The
righteousness of God here is the righteousness that He
imparts to us because we are forgiven, follow His standards,
and do what He wants us to do. By obeying the Gospel, He has
pronounced us justified. Therefore, the Gospel reveals how
God forgives sinners and makes them righteous. That's what
the Gospel does: it explains how God accomplishes this, and
He does so when we live in accordance with His will. He
further states, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be filled." They shall be
filled. In other words, they will receive what they desire.
Just like those who hunger and thirst, they will be
satisfied.
This is a
powerful word; it's a graphic term in the original language.
The phrase "shall be filled" comes from a long Greek word
that refers to the feeding and fattening of animals in a
stall. This is akin to the parable where Jesus fed the
multitudes with loaves and fishes. You know, the multitudes
were filled—it's the same word. These people were delighted;
they didn't need more to eat or drink. Naturally, having a
good physical appetite is a positive sign; spiritually, it's
even more significant. It's a sign of good health. However,
when we look at our society, many people lack the desire to
do what's right. They have no taste for God, no taste for
His word, and no taste for the spiritual. They could attend
the best Bible class or hear the best sermon ever, but they
could not care less—they're not hungering and thirsting for
righteousness. That's a sad but true reality. They've lost
their taste for it. The one who truly hungers and thirsts
for righteousness seeks a right relationship with God, and
such a person doesn't need to be urged to study the Bible,
attend worship, or pray. You don't have to pressure them
because they have that appetite—they want it. They’re the
ones who are hungering and thirsting; they want it. Again,
you don't have to force them because they genuinely desire
this. This person who craves righteousness wants
justification. The Gospel encourages him to pursue it.
He doesn't
need coercion; when he reads the Bible and the Gospel, he
feels a strong desire to do what's right and to follow God's
standards. He wants to take action, and he'll do whatever it
takes to obtain that forgiveness, justification, and
righteousness. This person possesses a genuine passion for
doing what's right. He actively seeks to honor God, obey
God, and glorify God. He wants to do all of these things.
Let's return to the Old Testament for a moment, where we can
see that desire reflected in a song we sing.
Psalms
42:1-2
As the
heart pants after the water brook, so pants my soul after
Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? See, he pants, or
he longs for, just like the deer desires and longs for
water. The psalmist says my soul longs for God; my soul
desperately needs God. That's what I need; I thirst for God,
I long for God, my soul pants for God. And then notice the
reward for all of this; let's go to First John, chapter two,
and that's about where we'll end today. 1 John 2:28 and 29
says this: "And now, little children, abide in Him, that
when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed
before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous,
you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born
of Him." So, again, this goes back; if we live a righteous
life, then we can have confidence when He comes again.
That's the reward, so it's another wonderful beatitude. Lord
willing, we will look at "Blessed are the merciful" next
Sunday, for they shall obtain mercy.
January 30,
2024
Prepared by
Bobby Stafford
The church
of Christ at Granby, MO
Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109
For more
lessons and Sermons, please visit
granbychurchofchrist.org/
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