7/28/2014 Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for - PDF document

7/28/2014 Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” 1. Why does Jesus use the analogy of “hunger and thirst” when talking about seeking righteousness? 2. What kind of righteousness are we to hunger and thirst for? 3. How will we be satisfied by hungering and thirsting for righteousness? 1

7/28/2014 Jesus actually says, “Blessed are the hungering and thirsting (ones) after righteousness.” Amos 8:11 “Days are coming when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord. A few reasons: To hammer home the importance of feasting on righteousness, instead of feasting other things of the world A few reasons: To hammer home the importance of feasting on righteousness, instead of feasting other things of the world Analogies make us think about, question, and deepen our faith 2

7/28/2014 Contr Contrasts betw sts betw een Physi een Physical cal and and Spir Sp iritual H itual Hunger nger Physical hunger--something’s wrong; Spiritu itual hunger- l hunger--somet mething ing’s ri right ght Contr Contrasts betw sts betw een Physi een Physical cal and and Sp Spir iritual H itual Hunger nger Physical hunger--something’s wrong; Spiritu itual hunger- l hunger--somet mething ing’s ri right ght Physical hunger--can’t be stopped unless you eat; Spiritual hunger- ual hunger--can can be i be impeded peded Contr Contrasts betw sts betw een Physi een Physical cal and and Sp Spir iritual H itual Hunger nger Physical hunger--something’s wrong; Spiritu itual hunger- l hunger--somet mething ing’s ri right ght Physical hunger--can’t be stopped unless you eat; Spiritual hunger- ual hunger--can can be i be impeded peded Physical hunger—satisfied when you’re full; Spiritua itual hunger—s l hunger—satis isfy fyin ing g it mak makes you ou hung hungri rier 3

7/28/2014 Contr Contrasts betw sts betw een Physi een Physical cal and and Sp Spir iritual H itual Hunger nger Physical hunger--something’s wrong; Spiritu itual hunger- l hunger--somet mething ing’s ri right ght Physical hunger--can’t be stopped unless you eat; Spiritual hunger- ual hunger--can can be i be impeded peded Physical hunger—satisfied when you’re full; Spiritua itual hunger—s l hunger—satis isfy fyin ing g it mak makes you ou hung hungri rier Physical hunger—a condition we don’t like; Spiritua itual hunger—a l hunger—a char haracteri acteristic w c w e shoul hould d des desire A few reasons: To hammer home the importance of feasting on righteousness, instead of feasting other things of the world Analogies make us think about, question, and deepen our faith To get us to focus on the char haracteris acteristic tic of hungering and thirsting after righteousness: our heart attitude! 1. Future or Eschatological Righteousness 4

7/28/2014 1. Future or Eschatological Righteousness 2. Right-ness or justice in the world 1. Future or Eschatological Righteousness 2. Right-ness or justice in the world 3. Personal right-ness or holiness Hebrews 10:12 “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those w ho are being made holy.” 5

7/28/2014 Peopl eople thi e think G nk God od just w w aits to to puni punish us us. But: But: Romans 5:8—“While we were still sinners, that’s when Christ died for us!” People are def defea eated ted because of losing the battle of sin so often. But: We have access to the pow er of God! 2 Pet. 1:1 ‐ 5; Eph 6:10, Jas. 4:7, 2 Cor 2:16, Col. 3:1 ‐ 2 People are def defea eated ted because of losing the battle of sin so often. But: We have access to the pow er of God! 2 Pet. 1:1-5; Eph 6:10, Jas. 4:7, 2 Cor 2:16, Col. 3:1-2 We have access to the pow er of accountability James 5:16, Galatians 6:1-2, 1 Thess. 5:11 6

7/28/2014 People are def defea eated ted because of losing the battle of sin so often. But: We have access to the pow er of God! 2 Pet. 1:1-5; Eph 6:10, Jas. 4:7, 2 Cor 2:16, Col. 3:1-2 We have access to the pow er of accountability James 5:16, Galatians 6:1-2, 1 Thess. 5:11 We are able to focus on our relationship w ith Jesus rather than worrying about doing more or better things John 14:15 ‐‐ If you love me, you will keep my commands. People think God just w aits to punish us. People are defeated because of losing the battle of sin so often. Sanctification takes work, because relationship takes work (Phil 2:12). But it’s so worth it! (John 15:15) “I no longer call you servants…I have called you friends” How Hungering & Thirsting for Righteousness Satisfies same word used to mean “full or filled” after you eat. 7

7/28/2014 What Matthew 5:6 boils down to There is a characteristic that should typify healthy Christians— spiritual hunger and thirst. The food that satisfies it is personal righteousness . The w ay it satisfies is by filling us , just like w hen w e eat. And though w e are filled, it leaves us w anting more, w hich is a good! 8