January 24, 2008

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

In keeping with the theme Jesus has established so far, mentioning those who are poor in spirit, and those who are meek, what does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness? The metaphor of hungering and thirsting carries with it the idea of an intense longing for deliverance, and even victory.

I do not think we should suggest that people can achieve the righteousness of which Jesus is speaking, it is a given righteousness, not an achieved righteousness. So, the idea of achieving righteousness is not a possibility. The blessed do not achieve righteousness, but hunger and thirst for it. The Spirit has opened the eyes of the blessed, and having experienced the depravity of sin, they naturally thirst for God, for He is the only one who can act on their behalf.

This does not diminish the fact that each believer is called to personal righteousness, an aggressively active pursuit of holiness. It is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness that will enjoy the blessings of eternity (Psalm 107:5-6, 9).

But, what does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? Righteousness is rooted in God. God upholds His righteousness and justice through Christ’s work on earth. Logically, one could see that those who hunger and thirst after Christ will be satisfied, for Christ is righteousness. The metaphor of hunger and thirst recalls a comment made by Jesus in Matthew 4:4, the idea of living not on physical food, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God. The word translated satisfied is a graphic word pointing to the idea of being stuffed. For all of our intense longing, we do not fill ourselves with righteousness, but are filled - righteousness is a gift of God.

Do you hunger and thirst for Christ as your only supply of nourishment? If not, you will never be satisfied. It is Christ, and Christ alone, who can satisfy the deep longings of our being. Pursue God through the study of His Word and prayer, living off every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Written by Matthew Capps