BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL HUNGER-MATTHEW 5:6

BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL HUNGER

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

Introduction:

This is the fourth step of blessedness. This falls into two parts: First, there is a duty implied here: To hunger after righteousness. Secondly, there is a promise added: “for they shall be filled.”

Just what is meant by hunger? Isaiah says it is a desire, Isaiah 26:9, “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”

Where does this desire come from? It comes from a sense of want of righteousness. Every believer should have this if he has submitted himself to the Lord for whatever God might want him to do.

I. HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS

A. The hunger and thirst for righteousness.

1. Hunger and thirst proceed from life, 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

a. It shows the character of a godly man; he hungers and thirst after spiritual things, Isaiah 26:9, “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”

b. It shows the disposition of the believer, Psalm 42:2, “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

1) In the Word preached, Psalm 42:1-2, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 119:20, “My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

2) In prayer, Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

3) In study of the Word, Psalm 119:11, 18, 33,“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 18Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.”

4) In the preaching of the Word by the believer, Psalm 119:27, “Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”

2. The appetite comes from God just as the food does, 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

a. The heart is inclined, Psalm 119:36-37, “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”

b. He is not ashamed, Psalm 119:46-47, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.”

B. The righteousness itself.

1. This is IMPUTED righteousness, Romans 4:3, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

a. This righteousness belongs to the LORD, Jeremiah 23:6b, “And this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

b. By virtue of this righteousness God looks upon us as if we had never sinned, Numbers 23:21, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”

2. This is PERFECT righteousness, Colossians 2:10, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

a. We are complete in Him, Colossians 3:11, “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

b. Because of His power and authority as the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

C. Reproof for those who do not hunger after righteousness.

1. They are full of their own righteousness, Romans10:3, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

2. They have judged themselves unworthy, Acts 13:46, “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

3. They refuse to consent to wholesome words, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

a. The plainest truth has its beauty, Ezekiel 33:32, “And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.”

b. But they do not hear them, Luke 16:31, “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”