Picture the God of the universe sitting down with you and explaining things. This happens in Matthew 5:1 when Jesus take His place on the mountainside to talk with many hundreds of hungry hearts. How long since you attended such a session?
So much grand truth comes pouring out. Let’s focus on one small verse and what words are there!
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6
All our needs are gathered up in the expressions, “hungering” and “thirsting.” Our very emptiness brings us to this “blessedness” of which Jesus speaks, but only, if we are longing for God’s righteousness; that is, a life whose every aspect equates with God’s will.
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.” Proverbs 21:21
This great blessing is already pronounced by our Lord Himself upon such a seeker. How important, central this is in the teachings of Jesus may be readily seen in such samples as:
John 4:14 where Jesus says to the woman by 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.”
John 6 portrays eating and drinking as participating in the full benefits of our Lord’s offered body and blood for sin.
John 7:37-39 where thirsty ones are encouraged to drink their fill at His blessed Fountain (which is the Holy Spirit) and the promise is that the thirsty will not only be well supplied but given an overflow for others.
Let’s be honest — completely honest. Do you not always go to the table at each mealtime? But what about your spiritual hungering and thirsting for the righteousness of God?
Those who truly search for the Lord and His righteousness will be found by Him. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6.
They are blessed. Indeed, they are filled, even to overflowing. Those who thus hunger and thirst for righteousness receive God’s benediction, and they themselves provide blessing to others.