The Blessed Hunger

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” -Matthew5:6

The human experience of hunger and thirst are internal alarms of a great need to survive. These words are more than craving. Our bodies warn us of what is needed inside of us to survive and thrive. The instinct of a deep need for survival is one thing, but our Lord taught that blessed joy is found in hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

In verse 10, Jesus tells us there is blessedness in being persecuted, but not just any mistreatment. Persecution for the sake of righteousness. The very righteousness we hunger and thirst for. There is a blessedness to enjoy for being persecuted for righteousness’ sake. So, in context, the blessed follower of Jesus is poor in spirit, agonizes over their own sin, is humble and lowly in their relationships to others, is merciful even to the undeserving, is pure in heart, exhausts energy to be a peacemaker, is persecuted for living a godly life, and is insulted and mistreated without retaliation.

The promise for the blessed Christian hungering for righteousness and being mistreated for righteousness’ sake is this precious truth of Jesus: they shall be satisfied. This goes to Paul’s secret to contentment in Philippians 4. To know how to have plenty and to lack, to be free or imprisoned, to have plenty or to be hungry, Paul learned how to be content. Christ strengthens us to do all things (Philippians 4:13).

However, Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes for being satisfied is “fattened.” That is, fed until completely full. It’s the same word for the feeding of the 5,000. They ate until they were satisfied. If we hunger for righteousness, we have the promise to eat until completely full. Fattened on the righteousness of God.

The Christian suffers the longing for righteousness as a hunger and a thirst, then suffers being persecuted for having been filled, or fattened with righteousness. To desire our own righteousness, that is self-righteousness, is the natural desire of the sinner. God works this longing, this desire for His righteousness.

Such a desire goes from selfishness to the very next verse, the blessed shows mercy (Matthew 5:7). This blessed mercy shower receives mercy. So, a pursuit of God’s righteousness has two results. One, that we mourn how far short we fall of God’s righteousness. Yet, with a new born-again heart, sin is dead to us and we pursue righteousness with the reward of being fattened with the righteousness we crave.

We are to long for eternity. Yet, we have never experienced eternity. We have only tasted portions of the eternal goodness of God. By faith in Christ, we receive the assured promise of everlasting life (I John 2:25). There, in eternal glory, we receive the fullness of this promise. While we sojourn here on earth, let us pursue His righteousness. Even if we are mistreated for pursuing a godly life (II Timothy 3:12), we are fattened with righteousness and content.

Heavenly Father, give us hearts craving Your righteousness. Where sin is dead to us and Your beautiful truth is alive in the deepest places of our hearts. May we be satisfied and content, even in the hardest times on earth, knowing You will lead us home with You in Your eternal dwelling place where we will be fully, finally, and forever satisfied. In Jesus’ name. Amen.