Happy are the Hungry
It is not a blessing to be hungry. But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounced happiness to everyone who was spiritually hungry— who longed for a holy life. He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” ( Matthew 5: 6).
In this Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounced blessing on those who recognized their spiritual poverty, and consciously depended on God and not themselves;
He said those who recognized their needs and presented them to the One who could assist, would be happy; Then He promised those who were humbled themselves, that they would inherit the earth.
In this fourth Beatitude, Jesus confirmed that everyone who hungered for true righteousness would be satisfied with what He supplied.
Since Adam and Eve contaminated humanity by their sin— pure holiness and untainted goodness had only been found in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ— the only One “who committed no sin” ( 1 Peter 2: 22).
Though we lack purity, something within us longs for it. In quiet, reflective moments, most yearn to be clean from the filth of sinful thoughts and wrongful deeds.
Jesus pronounced blessing on people who have such longing. Our deepest ambition should be a “hunger and thirst for righteousness” ( Matthew 5: 6).
The desire to be holy and righteous may wrongly lead one to seek self- righteousness.
But none of us can ever live good enough to earn eternal life or a home in heaven. Isaiah wrote, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away” ( 64: 6).
The Bible is conclusive when it states, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ( Romans 3: 23).
That inward desire to have true righteousness should lead us to Christ and His salvation by God’s grace.
The kind of righteousness that pleases God is available as a gift from our God, not as a payment for our work. Paul wrote, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy He saved us” ( Titus 3: 5).
In fact, it is “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” ( Ephesians 2: 8, 9). Yes: Blessed are the hungry— for in Christ they will be satisfied— forever!