Lesson 5:
Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Matthew 5:6 Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall
be filled [or satisfied].
Psalm 45:7 You
have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your
God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
The Psalmist
wrote that the one who loved righteousness was anointed with the oil
of gladness. Many years later, Jesus said that the one who hungers
and thirsts for righteousness will be happy and blessed, because they
will be satisfied (or filled).
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1. Purity of heart
and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine
law. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is
chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy
principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the
divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with
holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
"righteousness."
Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.
2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/righteousness
(27 May 2014).
The main
points for this lesson:
Remember,
beatitude means happy or blessed. Jesus is telling us the way to true
happiness and blessedness. The beatitudes teach us who will be happy
and why that person will be happy.
What does it mean to “hunger and
thirst for righteousness”? To hunger and thirst is to long for
something earnestly, to really want something. Righteousness is true
obedience to God in our heart and living. Righteousness and love must
go hand in hand, for the sum of all God's commands is to love the
Lord with all the heart, all the mind, all the soul, and all the
strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Therefore, to hunger
and thirst for righteousness is to earnestly long for complete
obedience and conformity to God and his son Jesus Christ, in heart,
mind, soul and strength.
This hunger and thirst has (at least)
two important aspects: First, I must hunger and thirst for
righteousness in myself; Second (the order is important), then in
others around me.
How can I hunger
and thirst for righteousness in myself? 1) Examine myself honestly (1
Corinthians 11:28,31) in the mirror God's word and my conscience. 2)
Pray for a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and pray for
righteousness (Psalm 24:3-6). 3) Read the Bible as God's word and
obey what you understand therein (1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 119:9). 4) Be
willing to receive instruction from others, beginning first with your
parents (Proverbs 2:1-9). 5) Flee from unrighteous, from sinful
things, and pursue good things (2 Timothy 2:22).
How can I hunger
and thirst for righteousness in others? 1) First remove the beam in
my own eye (Matthew 7:1-5), deal with my own faults first. 2) Learn
what God means by “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Matthew
9:13; 12:7). God desires us to help others to do what is right with a
help that is full of mercy and self-sacrifice. He does not want us to
simply figure out how wrong and bad a person is. 3) Encourage and
help others to do what is right (Hebrews 10:24). This begins at home
as we help one another to obey our parents and to love one another.
It is important to help others, but it is just as important to listen
to others who want to help me when I do not want to do what it right.
Whether or not we can be 100%
righteous in this life is not the issue here. Jesus tells us in
this beatitude that we should not be discouraged from earnestly
pursuing righteousness in this life. Rather, we should expect that if
we truly desire to put away specific sin and desire put on practical
righteousness, we will be satisfied. (As it is God at work in us both
to will and to work, see Philippians 2:12-13, we may hope to be as
holy and righteous as we are willing to be, as we are willing to work
out our salvation with fear and trembling. If we are honest with
ourselves, we will find that our lack of holiness or righteousness is
equal most often to our lack of willingness or desire for holiness or
righteousness.) He tells us that if we hunger and thirst for
righteousness in this life, we will be truly happy and blessed
because we will be truly satisfied and filled. This blessedness of
being filled, or being satisfied, will come (at least in part) while
traveling along the narrow path, and will come in all its fullness
when we reach the end and hear well done, good and faithful servant.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson with prayer for the
teacher and the students and this class time.
Read Matthew 5:6
with the children.
Give the children
a simple explanation of what it means to hunger and thirst for
righteousness. It means to really want to obey and love God in our
heart and in our actions.
The first four
stories below (Luke 19:1-10; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:9-14; 2 Kings
5:9-15) are perhaps the best to use with the children, though the
other stories could work as well. The first three stories consider
this desire for righteousness in myself. The fourth story, about
Naaman, considers this beatitude in light of encouraging and helping
others to do what is right.
As you read the
stories (you can read or tell the story in your own words), you can
ask the children who has a hunger and thirst for righteousness (and
who doesn't), and why they think so.
Also as you read
the stories to the children, you can ask them who in the story found
true happiness and blessing, and why they think so.
This time can be
used to encourage the children to do and love to do what is good and
right.
It can also be
used to encourage them to help and encourage others to do what is
good and right. The story of Naaman and his servants is a good
illustration of this.
Close the lesson with prayer related to
the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Stories:
Luke 19:1-10
[1] He entered and was passing through Jericho. [2] There was
a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
[3] He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the
crowd, because he was short. [4] He ran on ahead, and climbed up into
a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. [5] When
Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him,
“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your
house.” [6] He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully. [7]
When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He has gone in to
lodge with a man who is a sinner.” [8] Zacchaeus stood and said to
the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I
have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as
much.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this
house, because he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man
came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
It
could be said that Zacchaeus had a hunger and thirst for
righteousness. He was willing to go out of his way to see this Jesus.
Jesus must have seen his hunger, for he went to his house. Zacchaeus'
hunger and thirst did not end with climbing a tree and seeing Jesus,
or even with having Jesus come to his home. His hunger and thirst for
righteousness caused him to give half his money to the poor, and to
repay anyone from whom he had wrongfully taken tax money. Then it
seems that Zacchaeus was satisfied, for Jesus said to him, “Today,
salvation has come to this house...”
Mark 10:17-31
[17] As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt
before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I
may inherit eternal life?” [18] Jesus said to him, “Why do you
call me good? No one is good except one—God. [19] You know the
commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do
not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’
‘Honor your father and mother.’” [20] He said to him, “Teacher,
I have observed all these things from my youth.” [21] Jesus looking
at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell
whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.” [22] But his
face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one
who had great possessions. [23] Jesus looked around, and said to his
disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter
into the Kingdom of God!” [24] The disciples were amazed at his
words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard is it for
those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! [25] It
is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich
man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” [26] They were exceedingly
astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?” [27] Jesus,
looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with
God, for all things are possible with God.” [28] Peter began to
tell him, “Behold, we have left all, and have followed you.” [29]
Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has
left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife,
or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,
[30] but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time,
houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with
persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. [31] But many who
are first will be last; and the last first.”
For
the purpose of this lesson, you could shorten this story to verse 17
for time's sake, though the whole story can be used to illustrate the
lesson. The man who ran to Jesus seemed to have a hunger and thirst
for righteousness. He had pursued righteousness (Mark 10:20), and yet
still seemed to humbly recognize some lack of righteousness within
himself (Mark 10:17; Matthew 10:20). However, when Jesus plainly
showed him the next step, this man lost his appetite, he lost his
hunger and thirst for righteousness, and so went away sad. Had he
listened and obeyed, he would have found true happiness and
blessedness (even eternal life). It is important to note that it was
his riches which caused the lose of his hunger and thirst for
righteousness.
On
the other hand, Peter and the other apostles had such a hunger and
thirst for righteousness that they were willing to leave all behind
to follow Jesus. While they found persecutions along the way, they
also found true happiness and blessedness, and ultimately eternal
life.
Luke 18:9-14
[9] He spoke also this parable to certain people who were
convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
[10] “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee,
and the other was a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed
to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the
rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like
this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all
that I get.’ [13] But the tax collector, standing far away,
wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ [14] I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for
everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles
himself will be exalted.”
In
this parable, the Pharisee did not have a hunger and thirst for
righteousness. Why? He already considered himself righteous. Yet,
instead of being filled with righteousness, he was filled with sinful
pride. The tax collector cried out for mercy. He saw his lack and
knew his need. It could be said that he had a hunger and thirst for
righteousness. Jesus tells us that this man went home satisfied.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied.
2
Kings 5:9-15
[9] So Naaman came
with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the
house of Elisha. [10] Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go
and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again
to you, and you shall be clean.” [11] But Naaman was angry, and
went away, and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out
to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave
his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ [12] Aren’t
Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the
waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them, and be clean?” So he
turned and went away in a rage. [13] His servants came near, and
spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do
some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then,
when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’” [14] Then went
he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to
the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the
flesh of a little child, and he was clean. [15] He returned to the
man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him;
and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God in all the
earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your
servant.”
The prophet
Elisha gave Naaman a clear command. Naaman became angry and decided
he would not obey. His servants encouraged him to obey. Naaman
listened to his servants and was not only healed of his leprosy, but
came to know the true and living God. The servants of Naaman provide
a good example of how to encourage and help others to do what is
right. Were not such servants satisfied who not only led their master
to physical healing, but also helped him to find and know the one
true God? May we learn from their example.
More Stories and Examples:
Acts 2:36-47
[36] “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God
has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
[37] Now when they heard
this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of
the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
[38] Peter said to them,
“Repent, and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the
promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off,
even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” [40] With
many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save
yourselves from this crooked generation!” [41] Then
those who gladly received his word were baptized.
There were added that day about three thousand souls. [42] They
continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread, and prayer.
[43] Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. [44] All
who believed were together, and had all things in common. [45] They
sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all,
according as anyone had need.
[46] Day by day,
continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread at
home, they took their
food with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] praising
God, and having favor
with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those
who were being saved.
Peter spoke
this message to the people of the day of Pentecost is Jerusalem. When
they heard this, they realized their true condition. They had sinned
against God. They longed for true righteousness. Their seeking first
God's righteousness began with repentance and baptism. However, this
was not the end of their seeking. They continued steadfastly in the
apostles' teaching, in fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayer.
They also sold their possessions and shared with those in need. They
continued to gather in love with one heart and mind in the temple. In
these ways and more they demonstrated their hunger and thirst for
righteousness. God was pleased with his people. Can we doubt that
they were filled and satisfied? Among them there was gladness and
singleness of heart. God granted them favor with all the people, and
added daily to the church (to God's holy people) those who were being
saved.
2 Kings
22:1-23:27
Story
of Josiah. When the word of God was discovered and read to him, he
realized his condition and the condition of God's people. They were
far from righteous. Josiah shows us a king who had a hunger and
thirst for righteousness. He spent much time and energy removing the
old sinful things so that God alone would be worshiped and served.
2 Chronicles 17:1-11
Jehoshaphat
sought after God. Not only did he seek after God himself, but he sent
out men to teach God's people from the word of the Lord.
2 Kings 5:20-27
Gehazi had a
hunger and thirst for earthly riches. Was he satisfied in the end?
Other
Verses:
PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MYSELF
Psalm 19:13-14 [13] Keep back
your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion
over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of
great transgression. [14] Let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock,
and my redeemer.
This is a
good prayer for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Psalm 24:3-6 [3] Who may ascend
to Yahweh’s hill? Who may stand in his holy place? [4] He who has
clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to
falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. [5] He shall receive a
blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation.
[6] This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your
face—even Jacob. Selah.
The one who
pursues or who walks in righteousness will receive righteousness from
the God of his salvation.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young
man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Proverbs 2:1-9 [1] My son, if
you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you;
[2] So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to
understanding; [3] Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up
your voice for understanding; [4] If you seek her as silver, and
search for her as for hidden treasures: [5] then you will understand
the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. [6] For Yahweh
gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. [7]
He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who
walk in integrity; [8] that he may guard the paths of justice, and
preserve the way of his saints. [9] Then you will understand
righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I
have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?”
Some take
this and similar verses to mean that we cannot attain to complete
righteousness. Whether it means this or not in light of the whole of
scripture, this proverb is
not given as a discouragement to earnestly pursuing righteousness.
Proverbs 29:1 He who is often
rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no
remedy.
Matthew 6:31-33 [31] “Therefore
don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we
drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ [32] For the
Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things. [33] But seek first God’s
Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be
given to you as well.
Seeking
first God's kingdom is not a single event in one moment in time, nor
is seeking his righteousness. Rather, these should be guiding
principles or goals throughout our life as a disciple of Jesus
Christ.
Philippians 3:7-15 [7] However,
what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
[8] Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I
suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse,
that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a
righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by
faith; [10] that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his
death; [11] if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the
dead. [12] Not that I have already obtained, or am already made
perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that
for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. [13] Brothers, I
don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do.
Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the
things which are before, [14] I press on toward the goal for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us
therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you
think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.
1 Timothy 6:9-12 [9] But those
who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare
and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and
destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of
evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed,
and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [11] But you,
man of God, flee these things, and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
[12] Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal
life to which you were called, and you confessed the good
confession in the sight of many witnesses.
Some hunger
and thirst after earthly treasure. The apostle Paul warned against a
hunger and thirst for the riches of this life. The people of God are
to flee such things and instead follow after righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 [14] But you
remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of,
knowing from whom you have learned them. [15] From infancy, you have
known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. [16] Every
Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
[17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
1 Peter 2:1-4 [1] Putting away
therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all
evil speaking, [2] as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of
the Word, that with it you may grow, [3] if indeed you have
tasted that the Lord is gracious: [4] coming to him, a living stone,
rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
1 John 3:1-3 [1] See how great a
love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children
of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t
know him. [2] Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet
revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we
will be like him; for we will see
him just as he is. [3] Everyone who has this hope set on
him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS IN OTHERS
Matthew 7:1-5 [1] “Don’t
judge, so that you won’t be judged. [2] For with whatever judgment
you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure,
it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in
your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your
own eye? [4] Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the
speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? [5]
You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then
you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.
When I
desire righteousness in others, without first desiring and pursuing
righteousness in myself, I am walking the path of hypocrisy. On such
a path, love for others dies, and pride with its
blindness grows.
Matthew 12:7 But if you had
known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you
would not have condemned the guiltless.
God desires
us to show a mercy toward others that will help lead them to
repentance and that will help them to obey God from a whole heart.
Too often we are tempted to not show such mercy but rather to offer
to God our finger pointed at a guilty sinner (or at least what we
call a guilty sinner). There is a definite need for conviction of
sin. At the same time, mercy and love must guide our own heart in all
such situations to help the
convicted sinner.
2 Timothy 2:19-22 [19] However
God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows
those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the
Lord depart from unrighteousness.” [20] Now in a large house there
are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. [21] If anyone
therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor,
sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every
good work. [22] Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue
righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on
the Lord out of a pure heart.
Hebrews 10:24-25 [24] Let us
consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, [25]
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is,
but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day
approaching.
GOD HEARS AND BLESSES THE RIGHTEOUS
Psalm 34:11-22 [11] Come, you
children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. [12] Who
is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see
good? [13] Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking
lies. [14] Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
[15] Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to
their cry. [16] Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to
cut off their memory from the earth. [17] The righteous cry, and
Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. [18]
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who
have a crushed spirit. [19] Many are the afflictions of the
righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. [20] He
protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. [21] Evil shall
kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
[22] Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take
refuge in him shall be condemned.
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice made
by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the
upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:9 The way of the
wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows
after righteousness.
Proverbs 15:29 Yahweh is far
from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Proverbs 21:3 To do
righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than
sacrifice.
REWARD AND BLESSING FOR PURSUING
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Psalm 11:7 For Yahweh is
righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.
Proverbs 21:21 He who follows
after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness,
and honor.
Isaiah 55:1-3 [1] “Come,
everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy,
and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without
price. [2] Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and
your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? listen diligently to me,
and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in
fatness. [3] Turn your ear, and come to me; hear, and your soul shall
live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure
mercies of David.
Hosea 10:12-13 [12] Sow to
yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness.
Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until
he comes and rains righteousness on you. [13] You have plowed
wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of
lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty
men.
Romans 2:5-11 [5] But according
to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for
yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous
judgment of God; [6] who “will pay back to everyone according to
their works:” [7] to those who by patience in well-doing
seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; [8]
but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, [9]
oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek. [10] But glory, honor, and peace
go to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek. [11] For there is no partiality with God.
Galatians 6:7-10 [7] Don’t be
deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will
also reap. [8] For he who sows to his own flesh will from the
flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the
Spirit reap eternal life. [9] Let us not be weary in doing good,
for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. [10] So
then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men,
and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow after
peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man
will see the Lord,
While stated
in the negative, the positive statement is that the upright or
sanctified will see the Lord.
COMMENTARY
Righteousness must
here not be understood as being the Christian righteousness in
general, whereby the person becomes pious and acceptable before God.
For I have before said that these eight beatitudes are nothing
else than a teaching about the fruits and good works of a Christian,
which must be preceded by faith, as the tree and main body or sum of
his righteousness and blessedness, without any work or merit, out of
which these beatitudes must all grow and follow. Therefore understand
here the outward righteousness before the world, which we observe
among ourselves towards others, that this is the meaning, short and
simple, of these words: he is a really blessed man who perseveringly
and assiduously strives to promote the general welfare and the right
conduct of every one, and who helps to maintain and carry this out
with word and deed, with counsel and act.
Those that are
perishing for want of righteousness; that feel that they are lost
sinners, and strongly desire to be holy, shall be filled. Never was
there a desire to be holy, which God was not willing to gratify. And
the gospel of Christ has made provision to satisfy all who truly
desire to be holy. See Isaiah 55:1-3; Isaiah 65:13; John 4:14; John
6:35; John 7:37-38; Psalm 17:15.
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