Articles
Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)
Oftentimes physical food and drink leave us wanting, or perhaps the opposite, so full that we feel sick to the stomach. Being satisfied though is such a pleasant feeling!
As Christ put on human flesh, He became susceptible to the requirements of that frail body. He knew what hunger felt like (Matt. 4:1-11), but He also came from a place where perfect satisfaction was abundant. In His earthly teachings, He often expounded upon the feeling of hunger to relate man’s inability to see past the constraints of temporary discomfort and the value of seeking eternal satisfaction.
In this Beatitude, Jesus demonstrates an even greater aspiration than the satisfaction of a good meal. Jesus once said, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me” (John 4:34). While the world may not recognize the value of this food or understand our utter devotion to the nourishment of this food (cf. John 4:32), we must! Our hunger must be for righteousness for only then can we truly be satisfied! May we ever strive to be like Job who with the same attitude as Jesus said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12).
