Sermon – Beatitude #4 – Hunger & Thirst (for righteousness)

This is week #4 of our study of the Beatitudes. This week our verse is Matthew 5:6 (NLT) which reads, “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice (or righteousness), for they will be satisfied.”
Who in here likes to be hungry or thirsty?
Why is deciding what to eat or where to eat such a tough decision? Whether you’re making out your grocery list for the week; or deciding where to go for dinner (perhaps after church or on a date), this can be a struggle for many people.
Have you ever been driving – perhaps with your significant other – and you ask them where they want to go; or what they want to eat; and they answer with “I don’t know” or “I don’t care” or “you choose?”
On the flip side, have you ever had a hankering for a particular food; or really wanted to go to a certain restaurant; or perhaps go to grandma’s house because she can make everything; or when you show up to the potluck, you hope (“insert name here”) made their famous (“insert dish here”)?
Now, the thirst side is a little easier to handle. If you’re really thirsty, then water should be what you get; but other meals or snacks might have associated beverages or ones you prefer. Breakfast and deserts may call for milk or coffee. If you’re feeling sick, you might want OJ or a clear pop – think Sierra Mist or 7-up. We all have our preferred beverages; and perhaps more so depending on where we are, what we’re eating, or even who we are with.
Of course, the above all deals with the physical side of things – and even if we must deal with hunger for too long, we get “hangry” … we’ve made up a word for the feelings associated with our eating schedule being disrupted.
Beyond, just physical hunger, the Greek words used here (“peinao” and “dipsao”) have a deeper meaning. They can also be interpretated as to hunger after – desire earnestly – long for – to thirst after in spirit – to desire or long for ardently.
These words also go beyond just normal hunger and thirst. Beyond being time for our next meal; or being off our schedule. The same word is used in Matthew 4:1 when Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights; where He fasted and became very hungry.
We can look at these words as being famished or parched. Someone in either (or both) of those conditions would have a great desire for food and drink. It would be their sole focus; because if they didn’t get nourishment or refreshment, they would perish.
When Jesus was in the wilderness those forty days and nights, He was tempted to turn rocks into bread. His physical condition led to a spiritual temptation. Jesus, who created everything, and who later fed 5,000, could have turned rocks into food; but He didn’t give into temptation, but simply refused the devil and used Scripture (properly).
We should take that Jesus example seriously. We shouldn’t allow our physical condition to open doors for temptation; nor should we allow the devil to use perfectly good and normal physical needs to be sinful desires. Take care of your body and mind; and that will help protect your spirit.
(On a side / funny note – speaking of Jesus feeding the 5,000 – we often forget what it would have taken to organize a group of that side or that everyone was able to hear Jesus teach … we focus on the bread … what does that say about us?)
We may have a favorite food or meal that we desire; but we are told that those who “hunger” and thirst” for justice or righteousness are the ones that will be blessed.
The Greek word (“dikaiosyne”) used here can mean righteousness – what is right – justice – the act of doing what agrees with God’s standards, the state of being in proper relationship with God – fair and equitable dealing – generosity – alms – integrity – virtue – piety – godliness
You will be blessed (by God) if you are “hungering” and “thirsting” after HIM. If you are desiring to do what He says. If you are striving to follow His commands. If you have a passion for giving, serving, and being a person of honor.
1^st John 3:7-8 (NLT) … Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
If you have no desire to be in a right relationship with God or to live up to His standards, then at the very least that should be a warning; and at the very worst, your conscience is being seared if it isn’t already there.
On Sunday and Wednesday evenings we have a Bible study over Christian Character. In our last meeting we looked at passages that warned us against thinking and doing impure things; and the next time we meet, we’ll be looking at how we can live pure lives. Again, thanks to all who choose to attend and study; and if you haven’t yet made our studies part of your routine, please join us.
One of our questions in our last meeting was this, “How does God describe those who practice impurity?” One answer came from Ephesians 4:18-19 (NLT), which says, “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
Another passage we covered was 1^st John 2:15-16 (NLT), which says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
If the KJV is your preferred translation, then you might be more familiar with its wording … the lust of the flesh … the lust of the eyes … the pride of life.
There is a stark difference between what someone associated with world wants and what a child of God wants.
What you long for … what you desire … what you covet … what you want to obtain … what your priorities are … what you hunger and thirst for … those things say a lot, if not everything about you.
The last part of our verse – Matthew 5:6 – says that those people will be satisfied. The Greek word (“chortazo”) can mean the following:
- of animals – to feed or fill with grass – to fatten – to satiate – to gorge
- of people – to satisfy with food – eat one’s fill – to be filled to satisfaction – to satisfy the desire of anyone
When Jesus fed the multitudes, this word shows up … “they ate, and all were satisfied.
The Prodigal Son longed to be FED with the pods the pigs were eating.
The same word used in two different places; by or for people in two different situations or circumstances. In one, people were satisfied with Jesus – what He did; and in the other a person tried to satisfy themselves with scraps or leftovers or garbage.
There is a major warning there for us, too, but we must heed and obey.
Outside of Jesus, there is never truly any satisfaction. In living a life of sin, a person must keep sinning or going deeper into sin to obtain the same pleasure they sought at one time. Sin has negative consequences on our minds, bodies, relationships, and spirits.
Sexual sin is a biggie mentioned in Scripture; it plagues our society; and destroys many lives, marriages, and families. Even just one sexual sin can harm; but does it stop at just one time?
Greed and coveting are mentioned frequently in Scripture too. The “love” of money is the root of all evil according to 1^st Timothy 6:10. Those who cheat and steal and use unethical means to obtain their wealth, will do those things to keep it. Do the rich want to share their wealth or keep it?
If you are a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, you know that true satisfaction can only come from having a healthy spiritual life – one that is built on and centered around Him.
You are only satisfied if you are pursuing a life of holiness – if you are being sanctified – if your passion is Jesus, sharing His Gospel, growing closer to Him, and leading others to do the same.
While sin damages, destroys, and separates – in both this life; and the next; in following Jesus; and striving after Him, we can be truly satisfied in this life and the next; as He restores and reconciles.
Psalm 42:1-2a (NLT) says, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.
In closing … who are you longing for? … what are you striving for? … what will satisfy you?