BEATITUDES - LESSON 3

Matthew 5:6-7 Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are they, which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Hunger and thirst are human instincts to satisfy ones physicalneeds for survival. Food and drink are necessary to grow and sustain life here on earth. This same innate desire for physical nourishment, Jesus tells us in this verse, should be applied toward obtaining righteousness. To be righteous, is to always desire to act justly and in an upright manner - to do what is right; to be virtuous. This Christian characteristic is to be sought to the same extent to satisfy the spiritual body as food and drink to is needed to sustain the physical body.

All people of the world experience physical hunger and thirst - it is universal. Most of the activities of one's life is directed toward the satisfaction of these human desires. All people that read this passage can easily understand the analogy used by our Savior. Yet, sorrowfully, there are few that read it, believe it, and obey it. The spirit of mankind, the soul of each man and woman, also hungers and thirsts. Sin, that is recognized as a transgression of the will of God, leaves a void in the pit of one's stomach - the same hollow feeling that is experienced by physical hunger and thirst - something is missing that needs to be satisfied. Oh, that the world would search for righteousness - the right relationship with all mankind and with God, with the same desire and zeal as they seek to satisfy their physical needs!

Reading Luke 15:11-32, we find the parable of the prodigal son to be a good example to demonstrate the true meaning of the lesson text found in verse six. Asking his father to give him his inheritance, and then wasting it away with riotous living (Vs. 12) was, indeed, a sin for the younger son. No doubt he used it to satisfy all his physical desires. When it was gone, he didn't have sufficient resources to satisfy his own hunger - it was necessary for him to stoop low enough to eat the husks that the swine did eat (Vs. 16). Physical food, however, did not satisfy him. He recognized his sinful ways and he began to hunger and thirst for something else - the need to rightously correct the error of his ways. Of this prodigal son, Jesus said he came to himself (Vs. 17), returned to his father, and made amends for the sins he had committed. His father received him with open arms, fed him sumptuously, and forgave his sinfulness. Not only was his physical hunger and thirst satisfied, but, more importantly, his hunger and thirst after righteousness (was) ...filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. God will reward mercy only to those that demonstrate mercy to their fellow human beings. Mercy is the disposition of a person to show pity, kindness, and forgiveness to others - the demonstration of forbearance and compassion to all, including those that offend you. God forgives those that forgive, not some, but all others. Notice what Jesus taught the multitude a little later in this same sermon. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matt. 6:14-15). The apostle Paul certainly understood this teaching. Here is what he wrote to the church at Ephesus, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Eph. 4:32).

Regarding this passage, the bible scholar, Adam Clarke wrote this commentary, "Mercy is not purchased but at the price of mercy itself." How true this statement is and how infrequently it is practiced, even in light of the fact that God, the Creator, and Judge of all, will show His mercy only on those that demonstrate mercy to others during their lifetime here on earth. God's mercy is extended to all people of the earth through His Son, Jesus Christ; His death was the price paid to extend this mercy to the world. The only price we are required to pay to receive it is the price of extending this same mercy to all others. Opportunity to express mercy and forgiveness abounds around us each day of our lives. We constantly come in contact with those in need, whether it is physical or spiritual need. Our mercy is not to be restricted to immediate family, friends, neighbors, or fellow Christians. God requires that our mercy be extended to all people - even those that offend or harm us. Among other godly characteristics, Paul says that Christians are to put on tender mercies (NKJV) and wear them as clothing (See Col. 3:12-17). In the book of Proverbs, this wisdom is given, He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again (Prov. 19:17). Mercy for others is rewarded with God's mercy!