Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5 Vs. 6

 The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

hunger and thirst... An idiom for a strong desire; last day, that great day of the feast. The eighth day, the great day of the feast because it was a day of great assembly and offering sacrifices for Israel. The first seven days they professed to offer sacrifices for other nations (Lev. 23:34-36). On this day a priest drew water from the pool of Siloam in a golden vessel and brought it to the temple. When the morning sacrifice was on the altar he poured this water mingled with wine upon it, while the people were singing with great joy. It was perhaps at this time that the Lord made His great prophecy of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the life of each believer in Him (John 7:37-39).

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)] The 20th New Testament prophecy in John (John 7:37-39, being fulfilled). Next, John 8:21.

These future possessors of the earth are its presently installed rightful heirs, and even now they “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” This is the opposite of the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. It speaks of those who seek God’s righteousness rather than attempting to establish a righteousness of their own (Rom. 10:3; Phil. 3:9).

What they seek will fill them, i.e., it will satisfy their hunger and thirst for a right relationship with God. They experience a deep desire for personal righteousness, which in itself is a proof of their spiritual rebirth.

Those who are poor and empty in their own spiritual poverty recognize the depth of their need, and they hunger and thirst for that which only God can give them.

shall be filled... (Greek chortazo) refers to a complete satisfaction. The psalmist proclaimed: “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psm. 107:9).

This verse really needs very little explanation. Those who are trying to be in right standing with God (righteousness), spend a lot of time in the study of God’s Word. The more we seek, the more we consume of the Word, the more we are filled. The only way we can be blessed is to know that these blessings are available, and to know how to act upon them. God’s Word reveals the blessings.

The Pharisees were concerned primarily with external qualities, but the qualities Jesus mentioned are internal. These come only when one is properly related to God through faith, when one places his complete trust in God.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mat. 5:6) have a spiritual appetite, a continuing desire for personal righteousness.