HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS (4 OF 8)
by Tim Melton
Scripture: Matthew 5:6
This content is part of a series.
Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness (4 of 8)
Series: The Beatitudes
Tim Melton
Matthew 5:6
In Matthew 5 we find Jesus speaking to His followers on a hillside on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Most if not all in the crowd that day were Jews. The Jews of Jesus` day believed in a righteousness based on outward behavior. Obey the Ten Commandments, the religious laws and the rituals that had been added, and you are a righteous person. The Jews felt that they were the chosen people, so surely if they had good behavior then they should be seen as righteous. But Jesus shocked them by telling them that those who are blessed are those who first recognize their spiritual brokenness and mourn over their sin. He told them that the blessed ones are those who continually pursue righteousness not ones who think they have attained it. This was a major obstacle with which the Jews would have to reconcile if they were to follow Jesus.
It may be an obstacle for many of us today as well. Maybe you are trying to do more good than bad. Maybe you are focused on religious actions like praying, reading your Bible, helping others, wearing a cross, going to church, praying before meals with your children, while at the same time contrasting yourself to the ''sinners'' of the world. This is spiritual arrogance. We seem to be pursuing righteousness when on the inside we think we think we already are righteous. But Christ said, ''Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven'' (Matt. 5:20). Actions would not be good enough to reconcile us to God because we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
The only way to be made righteous is through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus said, ''Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.''
''Blessedness'' is an inner joy that is accessible to all who are in Christ. For those w ...
Series: The Beatitudes
Tim Melton
Matthew 5:6
In Matthew 5 we find Jesus speaking to His followers on a hillside on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Most if not all in the crowd that day were Jews. The Jews of Jesus` day believed in a righteousness based on outward behavior. Obey the Ten Commandments, the religious laws and the rituals that had been added, and you are a righteous person. The Jews felt that they were the chosen people, so surely if they had good behavior then they should be seen as righteous. But Jesus shocked them by telling them that those who are blessed are those who first recognize their spiritual brokenness and mourn over their sin. He told them that the blessed ones are those who continually pursue righteousness not ones who think they have attained it. This was a major obstacle with which the Jews would have to reconcile if they were to follow Jesus.
It may be an obstacle for many of us today as well. Maybe you are trying to do more good than bad. Maybe you are focused on religious actions like praying, reading your Bible, helping others, wearing a cross, going to church, praying before meals with your children, while at the same time contrasting yourself to the ''sinners'' of the world. This is spiritual arrogance. We seem to be pursuing righteousness when on the inside we think we think we already are righteous. But Christ said, ''Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven'' (Matt. 5:20). Actions would not be good enough to reconcile us to God because we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
The only way to be made righteous is through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus said, ''Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.''
''Blessedness'' is an inner joy that is accessible to all who are in Christ. For those w ...
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