Matthew 5:6

An Appetite for Righteousness

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.—Psalm 42:1

Rolando Rodriguez

The beatitudes define the steps that lead individuals into the body of Christ. Each beatitude can be seen to specifically identify a definite character trait in those who have the grace of God.

The first beatitude speaks of spiritual poverty: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). The second speaks of repentance: “Bless­ed are they that mourn” (Matthew 5:4). Repentance is an essential element of the character of one who possesses this grace. The third beatitude speaks of meekness: “Blessed are the meek” (Matthew 5:5). The fourth beatitude speaks of spiritual hunger and thirst: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6).

Hunger and Thirst

We have all felt a gnawing feeling in our bellies when we skip a meal. To some degree we know the sensation of thirst and the longing for water especially after expending a lot of ­energy. In the heat of summer when our bodies perspire, they cry out for more fluids, for cold, liquid refreshment. But few of us know famine, the kind that bloats our bellies and leaves us helpless. Few have ever been in the desert without water to the point of serious, life-threatening dehydration; few know the real pain of thirst or a craving for water like Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness of Beersheba (Genesis 21:14).

Such cravings are the result of our human makeup; it is the way we were created. For our body to function properly, it must be nourished. Food and drink strengthen us. God created the earth specifically for human habitation. Hungering and thirsting is a powerful metaphor. It expresses the inward cry of every creature for its very life. The Master takes an experience from everyday life—the painful experience of hungering and thirsting—and uses it as an illustration to elucidate the longings of the soul for meaningful contact with God and discerning his will in one’s life.

Those who lack physical food and drink are more likely to be aware of the prevailing injustice in this world. Their hunger or craving to see righteousness triumph can be all the more compelling. The righteousness of which Jesus spoke refers to the quality of propriety that fully conforms to God’s will and commandments. Expressing a thought similar to that of our Lord, the psalmist spoke of himself as being “crushed with longing” for God’s righteous judicial decisions (Psalm 119:20, NASV; compare Isaiah 26:9,10).

Whom Was Jesus Addressing?

Luke’s account of Jesus’ words read: “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled” (Luke 6:21). When reading from Luke, one would suppose Jesus spoke of those who longed for physical food. However, Matthew’s account makes it clear that the Lord spoke of those with a strong craving for righteousness. Jesus was speaking to his disciples. They were not lacking food or drink, but they were hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Not all who hunger and thirst for material things get filled. Such hunger often leads to frustration and starvation. It is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness who receive what Jesus promised; they are filled.

Few today hunger and thirst for righteousness. However, the context shows these words have their primary application to those who are heirs of “the kingdom of heaven,” those who hope literally to “see God” (Matthew 5:3,8.) These who hunger and thirst for righteousness follow three basic steps which result in a condition of well being where their hunger and thirst are satisfied.

Justification: The First Step to Righteousness

The necessary first step is to approach the Lord’s table and its provisions of spiritual “fat things” (Isaiah 25:6; Matthew 22:4). It ­requires a high regard for righteousness and truth. We must recognize our own unworthiness, our sinfulness, and our need for Jesus as our personal savior. Acceptance of his redeeming work, his life, death, and resurrection are essential to approach God’s throne of grace.

The repudiation of sin and the acceptance of Christ as our sin-bearer and advocate before the heavenly Father brings us to the condition which the Scriptures describe as being “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16). These are the ones who find comfort in knowing that despite their imperfections, they have peace with God. The heavenly Father is willing to accept such and their endeavors as though they were perfect. Such perfection is “reckoned,” not “actual.” Although we have been invited to partake at the Lord’s table as “holy and acceptable” (Romans 12:1), we nevertheless realize that all invited still have weaknesses of the flesh and fight battles within (Romans 7:25).

The Scriptures figuratively describe those who have taken this step toward the heavenly Father’s table as wearing a white robe of righteousness; they are covered with the merit of Christ which is imputed to all who believe in his ransom sacrifice and who seek to walk in his footsteps. All who approach the Father through the son, all who accept the terms of the upward call made during this Gospel age, are said to be on common ground; all sinners are covered and justified by the merit of Christ.

Consecration: The Second Step to Righteousness

Although the first step of justification is an important one, there is more to follow. The second step is one of full consecration to the Lord, a full denial of one’s own will. We recognize our imperfections, our sin-laden ways, that we are imperfect creatures with inherited weaknesses and surrounded by temptations. When we make a full consecration to the Lord and fully accept his will instead of our own, we are inducted into the family of God. We have the privilege of being called “sons of God,” “heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 8:14,17; Galatians 3:26; 4:6).

The position we hold within the family of God as sons and daughters has been made possible through the Lord as a result of our righteous hunger. We are given the privilege to feed at the Lord’s table to full satisfaction. We therefore can say with the apostle John: “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7,9).

Cultivating an Appetite: The Third Step to Righteousness

The apostle Peter says that believers should be like newborn babies in their desires, craving the pure spiritual milk of the word so that by it they may grow up into their salvation, now that they have tasted that the Lord is good. Consecrated believers must not stop growing toward spiritual maturity. They need the sincere milk “of the word,” the unadulterated word of God, which produces continuous growth until the spiritual inheritance is gained. None should be content with only a small taste; they should crave it constantly and keep growing (1 Peter 2:1-3).

How does one cultivate an appetite for spiritual things? It is done just as a physical appetite is cultivated: guidance. Those who hunger for spiritual things know they are lacking and should seek to eat in the same way one satisfies physical hunger. Nothing is more contributory to alleviating spiritual hunger than approaching the throne of heavenly grace. Such hunger should stimulate us to search the Scriptures, and select from among this storehouse the exceedingly great and precious promises by which we may be filled.

When we become faint and discouraged from opposition and the daily trials of life, we do well to partake of such promises, remembering the words of the Lord, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). When discouragement sets in due to our failures and shortcomings, we do well to remember these words of comfort, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust”; and that he “was in all points tempted as we are”: that he is our high priest and advocate (Psalm 103:14; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

If we feel discouraged and overwhelmed by the opposition of the world and the great adversary, we need to remember that “all things work together for good to those who love God,” and that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28,31).

If thoughts of depression or unworthiness set in, if we ever feel that God is no longer interested in us or our endeavors to walk in the narrow way, we should remember that our heavenly Father so loved the world while we were yet sinners as to give his son for our release from sin and death. He loves us even more now since we have hungered and thirsted after righteousness and approached his table through his instrument of salvation, Christ Jesus (John 3:16).

In following the course outlined in the Scriptures, the Lord’s consecrated ones receive their fill in this present time. As we study his word there is more filling, and with each filling comes the growth of our hearts, our capacities, and our appreciation. Our course as children of the most high God is a progressive one from start to finish. But the finish will not be in this life, it will be when we are changed in the “first resurrection.” Then we shall be like our Lord and Redeemer, and “see him as he is” and share his glory (Revelation 20:6; 1 John 3:2).

“Give Them Something to Eat”

Righteousness is a study in contrasts—justice and injustice, truth and error, holiness and sin. To be careless in discerning these is to be lacking in all. Whoever hungers and thirsts after righteousness in one of these areas will surely hunger and thirst for all. Whoever loves justice and righteousness will surely love the truth; whoever loves the truth will surely love righteousness and justice. For as the Lord states: “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).

Our Lord’s miracle in feeding the multitude illustrates the lesson of hungering for righteousness. The supply of food was so inadequate for the thousands of hungry and tired individuals: just two loaves of bread and five small fishes. The disciples were about to send the people away hungry, but our Lord said to them, “Give them something to eat.” As the account tells us, the portions increased and were more than sufficient to feed them all.

In like manner, the world of mankind hungers for righteousness, yet only the Lord’s consecrated, his brethren, know of the food which really fills to satisfaction. His message to us is, “give them something to eat” that they too may be satisfied. Those of us who attempt to do so now are richly blessed.

We thank God for his precious promises that our now reigning Lord will put an end to the adversary and his evil influence, that he will open the blind eyes of all mankind to an appreciation of the truth and show them clearly that the only table at which spiritual hunger can be satisfied is the table of the Lord. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” There is no doubt that the many who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled and that comparatively few will then starve to death (Habak­kuk 2:14).

Unrighteousness cannot fill any man. There is, however, a filling power in righteousness. Let us not deceive ourselves and go along idly day after day, year after year, looking for satisfaction, comfort, rest, peace of heart, and joy in earthly things. Let us realize that all these are found only by those who find the Lord. It is to these, because of the new joy which comes into their hearts, who receive new experiences. To these the beauty of every flower, bird, and every noble song is enhanced in value; to these the only things lost are the things not worth having, the things belonging to sin and selfishness.

Let us have a passion when it comes to longing for “food” from God, to hear his voice, and desire that he create in us a righteous heart. Let us, dear brethren, hunger and thirst for righteousness, cultivating our appetites in every sense of the word that we may receive God’s ample supply knowing the Master’s assurance that our satisfaction shall be complete. Already it satisfies our longings as nothing else can do, and eventually we know we shall be fully satisfied when we awake in his likeness (Matthew 6:33).