Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Intro

Text - Matthew 5.6; Matthew 6.33

Matthew 5:6 NKJV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Title - Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Background

Jesus declares this beatitudes to Jews -

because there is an absence of this very thing among them

the same is true to day

The word “blessed” here means happy -

righteousness, and the pursuit of it, is one of the true sources of happiness for God’s people -

but today, righteousness is seldom pursued

our number one goal in life are the material things

Why is this happening?

More than anything in this world, Jesus wants us to hunger and thirst for righteousness

hunger - implies need

righteousness should be the nourishment of our being

thirst - implies desire, longing

righteousness should be the desire of our hearts

Jesus teaches us 2 important things in our text -

that righteousness is one of the true sources of happiness in the divine plan of God

blessed are those who hunger and thirst...

that it is in righteousness that the real fulfilment of life is found - not in the materials gains

they shall be filled!

Note - blessedness and fulfilment are the rewards, not the reasons!

so what are the reasons?

Why should we hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Four Reasons why we should hunger and thirst for Righteousness

Because God is “Righteous” and He loves it

Psalm 11:7 (NKJV)

7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

God loves righteousness

Psalm 33:4–5 NKJV

4 For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

righteousness and justice are connected

God’s justice is based on righteousness

hence, if God is righteous He must punish the guilty and reward the upright

Jeremiah 9:23–24 NKJV

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

God delights in righteousness

Hence, to delight in God is to seek to understand God’s righteousness

Psalm 37:4–6 NKJV

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

TO THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO DESIRE TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD AND WHY.

Because righteousness is the foundation of His throne

Psalm 97:1–2 (NKJV)

1 The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!

2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

God rules in righteousness

God executes justice in His domain

God hates unjust rule - especially of those kings who held the sceptre of righteousness that He entrusted to Judah

Jeremiah 22:11–19 NKJV

11 For thus says the Lord concerning Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, who went from this place: “He shall not return here anymore, 12 but he shall die in the place where they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more. 13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages And gives him nothing for his work, 14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers, And cut out windows for it, Paneling it with cedar And painting it with vermilion.’ 15 “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. 16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; Then it was well. Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord. 17 “Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence.” 18 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’ They shall not lament for him, Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’ 19 He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, Dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

God promised the Righteous Ruler - Jesus Christ!

Jeremiah 23:5–6 NKJV

5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

TO HUNGER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IT TO DESIRE TO BE GOVERNED BY GOD’S RIGHTEOUS LAWS

Because righteousness is more desirable to God than sacrifices

Proverbs 21:2–3 (NKJV)

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

God desires mercy (justice in action) and not sacrifice

Hosea 6:4–6 NKJV

4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away. 5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And your judgments are like light that goes forth. 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

God’s word to King Zedekiah

Jeremiah 22:1–5 NKJV

1 Thus says the Lord: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word, 2 and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! 3 Thus says the Lord: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David. 5 But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself,” says the Lord, “that this house shall become a desolation.” ’ ”

Sacrifices and offerings are worthless without righteousness

Amos 5:21–24 NKJV

21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

those who worship God must also learn to KNOW God

those who worship God must also live righteous before Him

Micah 6:5–8 NKJV

5 O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.” 6 With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

TO HUNGER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO PRIORITIZE RIGHTEOUS LIVING BEFORE SACRIFICES

TO THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT HIDE OUR FAILURES TO LIVE RIGHTEOUS BEHIND OUR SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS

Because righteous living identifies us with God

1 John 2:29 NKJV

29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Righteous living is in the genes of the children of God

1 John 3:7–9 NKJV

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

TO THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO DESIRE TO SEE THAT GOD’S RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE DEMONSTRATED IN LIFE!

Conclusion

The world does not desire the righteousness of God. Why?

because the world lies under the power and influence of sin

righteousness is the opposite of sinfulness

A hunger and thirst for righteousness is one of the sure sign of being saved. Why?

because we cannot begin to desire righeousness unless it first imputed to us by faith

Romans 10 - Paul says the Jews did attain to the righteousness…

a sinner‘s first cry is not, “I want to become righteous!” But! “Have mercy on me O God. I am lost!”

First, righteousness is imputed to us by faith

Second, righteousness becomes our life’s passion - our hunger and thirst

Third, righteousness becomes our clothing

SONG - HE BINDS THE BROKEN HEARTED