“Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” – Matthew 5:6

When I was a young man, my relationship with hunger was akin to that of a bulldozer and its driver – nothing could stand in our way until food was secured, and in significantly good quantities.

Well, different people’s experiences with hunger can take on different forms.

Some, including otherwise respectable gentlemen, may do really weird things, especially at public functions.

Others may completely lose concentration, some adults may become irritable so much that they cry like infants, while others may yawn at the incredible rate of 100 yawns per minute!

That’s why the most popular moment during this fasting period is the time for breaking the fast in the evening.

In our meditation today, our Lord Jesus teaches that those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness are “blessed.”

The Lord metaphorically uses the human needs of hunger and thirst to illustrate a deep spiritual longing that craves to be satisfied.

In the original language, the word translated ‘righteousness’ is used in reference to God’s righteousness – His justice, holiness, and moral perfection.

It may also be used to refer to human righteousness – right-standing with God, living an upright life, conforming to God’s standards, and morality in one’s interactions with others.

Only Christ can satisfy spiritual hunger, not religion!

In the Old Testament, the psalmists and prophets frequently use ‘hunger’ and ‘thirst’ metaphors for spiritual longing. See Psalm 42:1-2; Amos 8:11).

Just like hunger must be satisfiedfrom outside, the metaphor implies that humanity desperately needs righteousness, just as a hungry or thirsty person needs sustenance.

True righteousness must come from God’s Providence, not human effort alone.

Only Christ can satisfy spiritual hunger, not religion!

Christ is emphasizing the importance of having a deep, passionate desire for spiritual growth and closeness to God.

And just as hunger and thirst are recurring needs for all living things, the pursuit of righteousness should be understood as an ongoing, lifelong process.

We must therefore develop the character of continually developing spiritual hunger, in line with the prayer that our Lord taught later – “Give us this day our daily bread.”

This calls for the daily practice of spiritual disciplines like prayer and meditation to nurture the inner spiritual hunger and thirst.

When fully nurtured, this character would negate the materialism and instant gratification culture of contemporary society, which is characterized by moral relativism and conflicting values systems.

Like Jesus taught later, “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In brief, hunger and thirst for righteousness involves seeking right-standing with God but also morally upright living, and a yearning for God’s kingdom to be established on earth.

This hunger should be the motivating factor for us to pursue spiritual growth, overcome sin, and cultivate godly virtues in our daily lives as we interact with our various spheres of influence.

In a world that is increasingly being dominated by capitalism and social injustice, there is an urgent need for devout Christians to hunger for a more equitable society where the needs of the voiceless, the poor, the needy and the marginalized communities can be addressed.