"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be satisfied."
Matthew 5:6 (ESV)
I must be fully honest. I know very little about hunger. Other than one aborted attempt at a 30 day fast (I last 4 days), my only experience with hunger was a bad case of the 10:00 am munchies. But hunger is something Christ demands from all who believe. In fact, the hunger that Jesus speaks of is proof that we do believe.
In some sense everyone is hungry, though many are hungry for the wrong thing. They sense they need something but wrongly stuff themselves with anything. A.W. Pink once observed that such individuals "long after what they have not got and that which they are conscious they urgently need." Yet it is not enough to be hungry and consume anything for not everything edible sustains and promotes life. In 1 Peter 2:2 the apostle tells us that "like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation."
Notice Jesus doesn't tell us to hunger and thirst after blessedness. The blessings we receive from God should never be our chief desire because ultimately even good things by themselves can never sustain our spiritual lives. The hunger Jesus speaks of is for righteousness. The desire for righteousness is simply the desire to be free from sin, since sin is what separates us from God. Martin Lloyd-Jones says "it means that one's supreme desire in life is to know God and be in fellowship with Him, to walk with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
This verse simultaneously challenges and comforts. It challenges because it forces us to recognize the true nature of being a follower of Jesus. We must hunger and thirst for him and the righteousness he provides. Without this we do not possess saving faith. It also comforts because we understand, despite our faults and failures, that our desire for Jesus and his holiness confirms that we truly know him. The one who is truly hungry is who who searches for the food only Jesus provides.
JG
In some sense everyone is hungry, though many are hungry for the wrong thing. They sense they need something but wrongly stuff themselves with anything. A.W. Pink once observed that such individuals "long after what they have not got and that which they are conscious they urgently need." Yet it is not enough to be hungry and consume anything for not everything edible sustains and promotes life. In 1 Peter 2:2 the apostle tells us that "like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation."
Notice Jesus doesn't tell us to hunger and thirst after blessedness. The blessings we receive from God should never be our chief desire because ultimately even good things by themselves can never sustain our spiritual lives. The hunger Jesus speaks of is for righteousness. The desire for righteousness is simply the desire to be free from sin, since sin is what separates us from God. Martin Lloyd-Jones says "it means that one's supreme desire in life is to know God and be in fellowship with Him, to walk with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
This verse simultaneously challenges and comforts. It challenges because it forces us to recognize the true nature of being a follower of Jesus. We must hunger and thirst for him and the righteousness he provides. Without this we do not possess saving faith. It also comforts because we understand, despite our faults and failures, that our desire for Jesus and his holiness confirms that we truly know him. The one who is truly hungry is who who searches for the food only Jesus provides.
"Man does not live by bread alone but by every word
that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Deuteronomy 8:3
that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Deuteronomy 8:3
JG
what happened after 4 days? Were you starving?
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