The Beatitudes - Part 5

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

In the description of a true believer as reflected in the Beatitudes given us by Jesus, humbleness is the foundational character trait. Without a humble spirit, none of the others would be possible. I read in one source that 'humbleness' also means to become angry at sin. As we read about meekness, it is the controlled anger, not lack of, which signifies a meek spirit. Therefore, in that context, humbleness is the active attitude of the Christian toward sin in combating it instead of a passive, indifferent attitude. When one exercises active combativeness against sin, he hungers for a new filling of God's righteousness (dikaiosune) which is the realization of God's rightful expectation of the believer. Here in Matthew 5, the form of righteousness used is the "Internal, where the heart is right with God, piety (devotion) toward God and hence righteousness, godliness."

"Those who hunger…" in Greek is the present participle hoi peinontes, rendered 'the hungering ones," indicating constant and repetitive satisfaction with God's righteousness, expending the received energy and hungering anew over and over as with physical hunger. In other words, we long for it, we receive it, and we are satisfied with it, then hunger for it all over again! Rather like eating a Lay's potato chip, you can't eat just one – except on a much grander and eternal scale.

Further, these humble people are also those who yearn for God above all else. Luke emphasizes those who hunger physically (Luke 6:21); Matthew emphasizes yearning for God's righteousness more than for food and drink, perhaps also implying that those who hunger physically are in a better position to begin to value God more than food (Mt 5:6; this may include fasting). In this context, hungering for righteousness probably includes yearning for God's justice, for his vindication of the oppressed; the context also implies that it includes yearning to do God's will (5:20; 6:33; 21:32; 23:29). This passage reflects biblical images of passion for God, longing for him more than for daily food or drink (Job 23:12; Ps 42:1-2; 63:1, 5; Jer 15:16; compare Mt 4:4). God and his Word should be the ultimate object of our longing (Ps 119:40, 47, 70, 92, 97, 103).

Having grown up in the time and culture I did, a common mentality and saying was "It's your thing, do what you want to do." That is not what I read in the Beatitudes at all. Not only can we not do our own thing, we are not to be passive about others doing their own thing when that 'thing' is sin. We cannot candy-coat sin like an M&M and just hope it doesn't melt all over us. You cannot combat what you do not recognize, so turning that blind eye toward sinful behavior is not in keeping with Jesus' description of the true believer, either. Neither is a judgmental outburst spewing anger and ugliness. How damaging would that be? This true believer stuff is not for the faint of heart and those that crumble easily, no lying down on the job in this. However, when filled with a daily dose of godly righteousness we are renewed and nourished to stand strong against the raging sin around us because we take assurance that our strength comes from God.

 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."