FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Matthew 5:6; Luke 4:32-43; 5:2-11; John 6:10-29; Matthew 3:11; John 6:27-35; [John 10:28]; John 6:38-44; John 3:16; Acts 2:39; John 6:45-53; [John 3:6]; John 6:54; [Hebrews 4:15; Acts 7:48; II Corinthians 6:16; 3:3; [Ephesians 2:22]; Acts 1:5; John 6:55-70; Matthew 15:32— 16:27; [Revelation 22:12]; Luke 9:22-28; Matthew 5:6

In Matthew 5:6, we see a wonderful truth in God’s Word. It says “blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” “Blessed” means happy or fulfilling. “Righteousness” is revealed in the scriptures and is magnified in our understanding as we pray to God. “Filled” means according to one’s appetite. Similarly to physical eating, this varies from person to person.

Jesus Christ came to make known God. As the living Word, he exemplified the characteristics of God. As he preached and taught God’s Word, people responded differently. Some fought because they were set in their ways. Others, being hungry, did whatever they need to get to the Master and hear him teach and make known God.

Luke 4 speaks of Jesus ministering to the people. Verse 42 says they “sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.” They were begging him to stay to preach and minister to them. Later it says they “pressed upon him” to hear the Word of God.

In John 6, Jesus uses the figures of “eating” and “drinking” him to exemplify that he was the living Word. Just as our physical bodies must partake wholly of food and drink in order to have vigor and health, so it is with our spiritual lives. Jesus Christ, the living bread, must be assimilated wholly to have a healthy, vibrant spiritual life.

Some people believe on Jesus Christ and receive the promise of eternal life. Others murmur against him. These are often people who are set in their religious ways. Jesus Christ shook them up and made them uncomfortable. Often when people are confronted with the truth of the gospel, they become unsettled. We cannot approach God’s Word with man’s tradition and accept what others says as doctrine just because it has been taught that way for years. We must allow God’s Word to speak for itself.

Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be blessed and filled. This is true with the rightly-divided Word of God, as well as our desire to function, operate and minister in light of what God has made us to be in Christ Jesus. Our words and ministering will only be as effective as the doctrinal truth we hold in our hearts. We determine our own individual hunger and thirst. God’s promise is we shall be blessed and we shall be filled.