Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness
Jeremy Bell
Matthew 5:6
July 2, 2023
Sermon Audio
Sermon Recap PDF
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” — St. Augustine of Hippo, 400AD
“The man who hungers and thirsts after righteousness is the man who sees that sin and rebellion have separated him from the face of God, and longs to get back into that old relationship, the original relationship of righteousness in the presence of God. Our first parents were made righteous in the presence of God. They dwelt and walked with Him. That is the relationship that such a man desires.” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
“The world is seeking for happiness. That is the meaning of its pleasure mania, that is the meaning of everything men and women do, not only in their work but still more in their pleasures. They are trying to find happiness, they making it their goal, their one objective. But they do not find it because, whenever you put happiness before righteousness, you will be doomed to misery. That is the great message of the Bible from beginning to end. They alone are truly happy who are seeking to be righteous. Put happiness in the place of righteousness and you will never get it.” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul longs for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” — Psalm 42:1-2
For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. — Psalm 107:9
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. — Isaiah 55:1-2
Hungering and Thirsting – Application:
1. Read Scripture
“His delight is the Word of God, for where else is God’s will, to which he hungers to be conformed, so clearly set forth? He wants to be righteous, not simply because He fears God, but because righteousness has become for him the most eminently desirable thing in the world.” DA Carson
2. Communion with God in prayer
3. Avoid that which dulls the sharp edges of our hunger
Questions for Discussion/Application
- To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to deeply desire holiness. When we first put our faith in Christ, we were justified — that is, we were declared righteous in Christ. Throughout the Christian life, our justified status, our right standing with God never changes. However, in sanctification, we do gradually become more like Christ – more righteous – in our character and conduct. The sanctification process will be complete, when we see the Lord face to face.
- What attitude and mindset toward sin will the person have who deeply hungers and thirsts for righteousness?
- What attitude and mindset toward obeying God will the person have who deeply hungers and thirsts for righteousness?
- In what ways do you personally long to become more righteous and more holy?
- How does remembering the gospel, remembering what Christ has done motivate us towards holiness (see Romans 12:1)?
- At the end of the sermon, Jeremy offered three points of application: 1. Read Scripture 2. Communion with God in prayer 3. Avoid that which dulls the sharp edges of our hunger. How can growing in these ways increase our hunger for God and for personal holiness? Which of these three points strikes you the most as an area in which you want to grow in?
- Consider taking time to pray, asking God to help us to grow daily in our pursuit of holiness and delight in Christ.