Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Continuing through this topical Bible Study of the Beatitudes of Matthew chapter Five, Professor Dan Doriani explains that the first four beatitudes all describe the needs of the Christian disciple. To be poor in spirit is to know one’s spiritual neediness and dependence on God. They mourn their sin first, and then mourn all sin. Those who know their spiritual poverty and mourn it are humbled in meekness. To be meek is the opposite of arrogance, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Meekness contrasts with self-assertion that is born of selfishness, because the meek know their spiritual poverty and mourn it; they refuse to exalt themselves. If true disciples of Jesus Christ know their sin and weakness, they will also ask god to meet their need for righteousness.

Isaiah 55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “righteousness” as: Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion. Includes active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled.

Psalm 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

Dr. Doriani points out that “Hunger and thirst” is a metaphor that does not resonate today as it did in Jesus’ day, when food and water were scarce and people were often hungry and thirsty. In our culture, food and water are plentiful, sow e miss the urgency Jesus intended. Hungry, thirsty people work hard and urgently to gain food and water. To hunger and thirst for righteousness, then, means we should urgently pursue godly righteousness.

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

I’ve heard it simply said the righteousness is being in a right relationship with God. But, righteousness has several senses in Scripture. There is “legal” righteousness that we receive through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The righteousness of Christ bestowed when we believe in Him. This is justification. Justification confers legal righteousness, so believers can stand before God the Judge on the last day. Justification wipes away all sin and guilt, whatever our level of sanctification. In this beatitude, Jesus primarily describes the “personal” righteousness of His disciples. To hunger for righteousness is to yearn for God’s rule in our lives. It is to have a thirst for God’s holy Word and for the company of the godly. This hunger and thirst leads us to uproot our sin by the power of the Holy Spirit and become more like Jesus.

Matthew 6:9-10 In this manner, therefore, pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The third is “social” righteous. This hunger and thirst for righteousness leads the Christian disciple to promote God’s cause in business, education, politics and every other aspect of community life this side of Heaven. Further, we look for the day of Jesus’ return, when He will set creation right, Satan will be overthrown, and God’s righteousness will cover the earth. Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you pursue holiness? Jesus says that those who do shall be filled.

Blessed in Christ.