Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Scripture: Matthew 5:6 February 27, 2011
Title: Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness Sunday Noon Service

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
When we believe in Jesus, we go through various kinds of changes. One of them is an acquisition of a new understanding regarding “inner man”. The Bible divides a man into two parts: one is the outward man, and the other is the inner man. The outward man refers to the superficial appearance of a person. It is the appearance of man that is shown to the world and seen by others. It includes appearance, abilities, personalities, attitudes toward life, and possessions, etc. In contrast, the inner man refers to what is hidden inside a person. It is a part of man about which others cannot know and even he himself cannot know well. It means the spirit tainted by sin, depraved conscience, and hurt and suppressed hearts. We can analogize this with a tree. A tree has parts that stand on the ground, such as the bark, branch, and the leaves, as well as parts that are hidden under the ground, such as the root. We can see only the parts that are standing on the ground and not the parts under the ground. The parts that are standing on the ground are like the outward man of a person, and the parts that are under the ground are like the inner man of a person.

Before we accept Jesus as Christ, our eyes that can properly recognize the inner man are not open. Therefore, we live focused on our outward man, as if that is all there is. Consequently, the inner man weakens and dies, but we do not recognize the problem. So we cannot solve the problems of life. But after we accept Jesus, our eyes that can see the inner man open up. As our faith grows, we realize the importance of the inner man; and eventually, our lives become focused on life that prioritizes the inner man.  As our eyes that is able to see the inner man open, our attitude toward life changes. Especially, our attitude towards seeking blessings changes. Before we accept Jesus, we seek blessings related to the outward man. We seek blessings in health, family, wealth, honor, advancement in the society, and success.

However, when we accept Jesus and our eyes that is able to see the inner man open, we begin to seek blessings related to our inner man. The beatitudes that Jesus speaks about in the Sermon of Mount are the examples. We come to realize that being poor in spirit is a blessing. We come to realize that to mourn is a blessing, that to be meek is a blessing, and further, that to hunger and thirst for righteousness is a blessing, which today’s scripture talks about.  In other words, today’s scripture which says that blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness can only be understood by those whose eyes that see the inner man are open.  Let us look at today’s scripture from the perspective of a inner man. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Righteousness In order to properly understand this text, we must first look at what “righteousness” means.  “Righteousness” in today’s scripture is translated from the Greek word “dikaiosuine”. This word is often used in a legal sense. “Dikaiosuine” refers to a status where one is legal because he did not break any law. The meaning of this word was also expanded and used in a customary sense; it also refers to a good condition in which the moral and ethical rules of the society are well kept. When people have not accepted Jesus yet and cannot see the inner man, they have no scruple before this word, “righteousness”. It is because they have generally observed the moral and ethical rules and have no legal liabilities, in terms of the outward man. Moreover, they probably did not do anything to damage others or to be finger-pointed by others. Furthermore, they probably have helped the needy and did good deeds without drawing attentions of others.

Therefore, when we say we are all sinners, these people strongly resist. They argue, “Why am I a sinner?” They subtly insist on their own righteousness. That is the “righteousness of man”. But once we believe in Jesus and our eyes that sees the inner man open, the situation changes. We can see our true selves before God. The sins that have been invisible become visible one by one. We become able to see our weaknesses. We realize how we were so easily shaken and failed before temptations and trials.
 10. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Before these words, we cannot help but say “Amen” with tears and confess that we are sinners. We cannot insist on our own righteousness or talk about the righteousness of man anymore. Then what is the righteousness that is being talked about here? It is “God’s righteousness”. It refers to the righteousness that can be found only from God who is sinless, unrelated to unrighteousness, and holy. It is the kind of righteousness that is unthinkable and unapproachable by people.  But amazingly, the Bible tells us that there is a way in which we can be helped by this righteousness of God. 
 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
  Although we are sinners, there is a way in which we become righteous through the righteousness of God.  How, then, can we be helped by God’s righteousness?  First, it is to have our sins forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 says that our sins are forgiven because Jesus took our sins on our behalf and bled on the cross, thus atoning for our sins.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
 Next is to be clothed with God’s righteousness. Romans 5:9 says: 
 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
 We can be justified by believing in Jesus Christ who is crucified on the cross. Then we can be saved from God’s wrath by God’s righteousness, not by our own righteousness.  Martin Luther provides us a very important insight. As he was explaining Galatians 3:13, he used a noticeable concept, which is the “joyful exchange”. Jesus makes an exchange on the cross. In other words, he takes our sin, and in exchange, he gives us God’s righteousness which he brings from God. There cannot be a more blessed exchange for us. So Luther used the term “joyful exchange”.  That is right. The “righteousness” that today’s scripture talks about is not that of man. Neither is it the righteousness of our own. It is the righteousness of God. Now, this righteousness of God is the righteousness through which we may be helped by the cross of Jesus Christ.

Hunger and Thirst  Next, what does it mean by to hunger and thirst? To simply put, it refers to a condition in which one is hungry because one has not eaten, and thirsty because he has not drunk.  In Greek mythology, there is a story of King Tantalus who was favored by the gods in Olympus and was invited to dine and fellowship with them. While at Olympus, Tantalus stole the divine drink, ambrosia. He also did other things to make the gods upset.  Zeus got angry. So he locked up Tantalus in a dungeon and punished him with the suffering of eternal hunger and thirst. Tantalus was immersed in water filled up to his chin, but suffered from thirst. When he bent down his body to drink water, the water withdrew, too. When he raised his body up, then the water filled again up to his shoulder and chin. There was a tree full of delicious looking fruits right in front of his eyes. When he reached out his arm for the fruit, the branch would raise up beyond his reach. So he had to suffer continuous hunger and thirst.

From this story comes the English word “tantalize” which means eagerly wanting because of temptation.  That is right. To hunger and thirst means to desperately want something to drink and eat. In fact, worldly people experience their outward man hunger and thirst. First, there are people who hunger and thirst because of their lust. There are people who hunger and thirst because of sexual desire and indulgence. There are people who hunger and thirst because they are addicted to gambling and drug.
Next, there are people who hunger and thirst because of their needs. They constantly worry about what to eat and what to drink. They waste their life away because they are so concerned about feeding themselves.

Then, there are people who hunger and thirst for meaning. There are people who commit their lives to pursue some ideology or fidelity. And they fall into self-righteousness, ostentation, and pride. However, when we believe in Jesus and newly discover our inner man, we discover a new kind of hunger and thirst. In Psalm 42:1, the psalmist expresses the condition in which his inner man hungers and thirsts as this: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” That is right. Those who believe in Jesus and discover the inner man begin to feel different kinds of hunger and thirst which his inner man feels. One of them is the hunger and thirst for righteousness. In other words, it is the hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.

Then what exactly does it mean to hunger and thirst?  Firstly, it is to realize one’s sin and to repent. This is a story about Reverend Gil, Sun Joo, who was the first evangelist in Korean church history. There was a gathering at Jang Dae Hyun Church, Pyeongyang, and approximately 1500 Christians gathered. Despite that Reverend Gil preached the Words passionately everday, nothing was happening. So Reverend Gil fell down and cried out to God.  At that time, God reminded Reverend Gil of his sin. Long time ago, when a friend of Reverend Gil was in his death bed, he asked Reverend Gil to sell his property so that his wife and children will be able to maintain their living. When Reverend Gil sold this friend’s property, he stole 100 won. Then a long time passed. But now God reminded him of this sin.

Reverend Gil was very surprised and repented before God. When he was preaching, he confessed his sin in front of the congregation with tears, and promised that he would send the money he stole to the widow. Then the Holy Spirit began to work at the church.  That is right. To hunger and thirst for righteousness means to struggle to repent before God even the smallest sin in one, as if one would struggle to pull out a small thorn stuck in his finger. Next, it means to do one’s best to live by the Word of God. In Genesis 6:9, it says, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” It says Noah was a righteous man. The Bible says in other place that there is no righteous man, not even one – is Noah an exception? What does it mean that Noah was a righteous man?

To simply put, Noah was someone who tried to live righteously. When we say he tried to live righteously, it means that he did his best to obey to the Word of God. He kept abiding by what God said, despite the teasing, execution, and opposition of other people for 120 years.  That is right. To hunger and thirst for righteousness means to do one’s best to obey and live by the Word of God.
They will be filled  Today’s scripture provides a reason why those who hunger and thirst for righteousness is blessed. It is because they will be filled. Here, to be filled is also about the inner man. It means the inner man will be filled.  What does it mean, then, that the inner man will be filled?  Firstly, it means God forgives us when we realize our sin and repent, so that our inner man is filled with gratefulness.

Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith.” 
 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
  Also, Romans 5:9 says, “have now been justified by his blood.”
  9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
 That is right. When we repent, not only are we forgiven, but we are also considered righteousness because of our faith. Therefore, although we are sinners, we are called righteous man. How amazing is this grace?  Hymn #305 is a translation of the famous song, Amazing Grace. The lyrics go like this:  Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me / I was once lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.  T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.  Those who can sing like this are those who have experienced his inner man filled.  Next, being filled means one is filled with joy because of the compliment that God gives to those who try to obey to the Word of God.
 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
These words are the words of compliments that our Lord will give to those who tried their best to live righteously. The Holy Spirit gives hope to those who try to live righteously for the compliment that God will give to them on the Last Day. The Holy Spirit also allows us live joyously, fixing by faith our eyes upon our Lord’s compliments. Those who taste this joy in their lives are those whose inner man is filled.  Dear everyone! It is said that “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Our inner man must hunger and thirst for righteousness. We must live a life that yearn for God’s righteousness, and obey to God’s righteousness. Only then, God will fill our inner man with gratefulness and joy.