What does it mean that blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Answer

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount commences with the Beatitudes, a series of blessings that depict the inner qualities of individuals who are genuine servants of God and the kingdom of heaven. This instruction was a component of Jesus Christ’s thorough discipleship program for His twelve selected apostles. The fourth Beatitude proclaims, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” « Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. », (Matthew 5:6).

The Beatitudes present fundamental truths for leading a life as a follower of Christ. While each Beatitude can exist independently, they are not simply a series of disconnected statements. They are interconnected in a continuous sequence, with each one expanding upon the preceding truth. The initial Beatitudes address the state of the heart; the subsequent group relates to our connection with the Lord; the final cluster concerns our interactions with others.

Jesus consistently starts with the heart. By bestowing a blessing upon those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, He delved into the internal condition of our hearts.

Referencing Old Testament passages that portray the downtrodden and oppressed (Psalm 10:17-18;74:21;109:22;140:12;Proverbs 15:15 Job 5:17;Isaiah 30:18), Jesus utilized language and ideas in the Beatitudes that were recognizable to His audience (Psalm 1:1;Psalm 34:8;Psalm 65:4;128:1;Proverbs 14:21). Those who listened were enduring the oppressive governance of the Roman Empire. They were facing heavy taxation, restricted freedoms, and perseuction.

The servants of God’s kingdom were in great need of the heavenly perspective and hope of an eternal inheritance that Christ presented in the Beatitudes.

The term “blessed” in the Beatitudes conveys profound, joy-filled contentment and an inner state of spiritual well-being. To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to have an active spiritual longing: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2; see also Psalm 63:1; see also Psalm 143:6; Amos 8:11). This desire is not passive; it is a fervent seeking. The servant who hungers and thirsts for righteousness is the same as the one who seeks God’s kingdom and His righteousness before and above everything else “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”, (Matthew 6:33). This servant is blessed because he or she experiences a satisfied heart. This servant can say, “It is well with my soul.”

Righteousness speaks of a right relationship with God and with other people. The concept of right relationships with others serves as the connection to the subsequent section of the Beatitudes, while a right standing with God is His gift of salvation given through faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe in Him “even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”, (Romans 3:22).

Luke’s version of the fourth Beatitude focuses solely on hunger: “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied” “Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.”, (Luke 6:21). However, Matthew’s account heightens the longing for righteousness by adding thirst. Those who crave righteousness will receive the water Jesus offered the woman at the well: “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” «but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. », (John 4:14, NLT). The term “filled” or “satisfied” in the Beatitude signifies that the hunger and thirst will be quenched. The verb is passive, indicating that God Himself will satisfy our deep desire for a right relationship with Him. Salvation is His gift. We cannot earn it «For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: », (Ephesians 2:8).

In essence, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied, could be rephrased as: “Deeply joyful and spiritually complete are those who actively pursue a right relationship with God and, in doing so, realize that He alone can fully save and fulfill their souls.”