Hunger and Thirst Part 2

Hunger and Thirst Part 2

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

Jesus was teaching in the Beatitudes sustaining power. The Greek plural (makarioi) of “Blessed” indicates a fullness of blessing that sustains a disciple of Jesus even in difficult circumstances or persecution. So, we can say that we will be sustained (blessed) even when things are difficult if we “hunger and thirst after righteousness”. Since we discovered in part 1 that righteousness only comes through Jesus Christ, we must “hunger and thirst” after him.

The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible says, “Those who hunger… in Greek… indicates constant and iterative satisfaction with God’s righteousness, expending the received energy and hungering anew over and over as with physical hunger.” Just like our physical bodies get hungry a few hours after we have eaten, our spiritual man should hunger continually for the things of God. The physical condition of our bodies is determined by what and how often we eat. Our spiritual condition is determined by our desire (hunger and thirst) for the presence of God and the study of His Word.

Our hunger and thirst for God can easily be destroyed by fixing our eyes on the things of the world. We must be careful not to let anxiety, deceitfulness, worry, stress, life’s pleasures or even wealth cause us to die spiritually.

Remember that we are sustained and blessed when we hunger for God and right living.

Pastor Julia Scott