Seek Righteousness
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Biblical usage for the greek words
Hunger - earnestly desire, to be needy
Thrist - eagerly long for, painfully feel the want of
Righteousness - the condition acceptable to God, the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
Shall be filled - be satisfied, to satisfy something that is desired
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which earnestly desire and eagerly long after the way in which they may attain a state approved of God: for they shall be satisfied.
To hunger and thirst in Matthew 5:6 is not speaking of eating food or drinking water because it is talking about righteousness. This means there is another meaning.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Biblical usage for the greek words
Seek - seek in order to find, strive after, aim for, desire, to crave, require
Kingdom of God - can refer to God’s actual rule/dominion, or his actual kingdom with him as the ruler
Righteousness - the condition acceptable to God, the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
All these things… is referring to what we need to eat, drink and clothes (the previous verses, Matthew 6:31-32)
I’m including Matthew 6:33 as it mirrors Matthew 5:6 and provides more instruction. Both talk about desiring, longing for and seeking righteousness and if we do, there is a satisfying or fulfilling of want we need.
Curiously, from Matthew 6:31-34, if we seek God our physical needs are met. Which circles back to the hunger and thirst from Matthew 5:5, which should be focused on righteousness.
Let's explore righteousness further, and what is being talked about here. Since we are to seek, hunger and thirst for it. And as a result of doing so we are blessed and are satisfied.
We will start with Abram, Genesis 15 starts with God giving promises to Abram but Abram commented that he had no child to give inheritance to. God said your seed will number the stars in the sky. Then…
Genesis 15:6 - And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
And he didn’t just believe, but he believed by having complete trust that God would keep his word. He did not doubt, he probably walked with a bit more confidence, with blind faith and continuing to do right before God.
Read through Deuteronomy 6, which is quick and got great information. It ends with...
Deuteronomy 6:25 - And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Really, our righteousness (or our condition acceptable to God) happens if we observe all the commandants before God. Maybe doing so (like Abram) while believing God and trusting with blind faith that…
it may be well with you (Deut 6:3, 18)
he’ll bring us into the land that was promised with things we did not created (Deut 6:10-11)
he brought us out of our bondage (Deut 6:21)
that he might preserve us alive (Deut 6:24)
that he will go before us casting out those who will stand in our way (Deut 7, yes read this as well)
Read through 2 Samuel 22, it is a run through of David’s praise to God and is similar to Deut 6-7.
He brought David out of his distress (2 Sam 22:5-7, 17-18, Deut 6:21, Deut 7)
He preserved David from calamity (2 Sam 22:19, Deut 6:24)
He brought David to a large place and delighted in him (2 Sam 22:20, Deut 6:10-11)
After God saves David and brings him to safety...
2 Samuel 22:21 - The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
God rewarded David according to his righteousness (his condition acceptable to God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting)
Recompense is to give something as a way of compensation, in this case because of the cleanness (pure/not defiled) of his hands (deeds/actions)
Why…
2 Samuel 22:22-24 -
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Righteousness is to keep the ways of the LORD
And not to depart from God
For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
Righteousness is to keep God’s judgements before you
And did not depart from God’s statues
I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
Righteousness is to also be upright before God
Upright is complete, wholesome, innocent, perfect
And to keep yourself from iniquity (lawlessness)
And again…
2 Samuel 22:25 - Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eyesight.
It’s a repeat of v21 and sandwiched in between is the why God rewards him and recompenses him.
Again, to summarize (and to elaborate)…
God repays you and rewards you because
you keep the ways of the LORD,
Honestly, take the time to read Psalm 119
Or, listen on YouTube, (15 minutes) Link to video
Link to scripture list for the ways of the LORD
you do not depart from God,
keep his judgements before you,
Proverbs 3:6 - In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
do not depart from his statues
you are upright (perfect) before him, and
we should at least strive to be as upright as possible, even if we may fail. But if we do...
1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
you keep yourself from iniquity.
Need help in the how-to be righteous, not depart from God, learn the correct ways of God? Remember…
1 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Start reading and asking questions. If you get an answer, check it against scripture.
Righteousness is the condition acceptable to God, the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.
Acts 10:34-35 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him (God), and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him (God).
Matthew 25:31-46
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
during the end days
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
divided into two groups the sheep and the goats
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
sheep on the right are blessed and inherit the kingdom of God
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
v35-36 are what they did to be blessed.
this is the love thy neighbor, one of the greatest commandments, one of which the rest of the commandments are based on and detail out
Deut 15:7,11 is a start
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
the righteous are the sheep on the right
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
they never saw him in these states and helped him.
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
read 1 John 4:7-21
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
goats on the left are cursed and destroyed
these are opposite the righteous since there are only two groups
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The goats (the opposite of righteous) receive punishment and the sheep (those who are righteous) receive reward.
You can look righteous but not be righteous…
Matthew 23:27-28 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
On the outside you can be beautiful and appear righteous (doing what is right), but on the inside you are dead and practice iniquity (lawlessness)
Righteousness is following God’s ways, commandments, laws, instructions…
Mark 2:17 - When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus came for those who are sinners, who do iniquity and practice lawlessness.
To bring them to repentance, ask for forgiveness, to redeem them and return them to righteousness.
When you repent and are saved is the time to seek righteousness and cling to the ways of God and his instructions or law.
Righteousness is the condition acceptable to God, the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.
Luke 1:5-6 - There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Being righteous is walking in all the commandments and ordinances blameless (or upright).
Romans 5:18-19 - Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Romans 5 is defining much of the same. But it’s referring to Adam and through him all mankind was fallen because he (and Eve) was it, all mankind.
And through Jesus, one that was perfect in the law, all can now be made righteous.
But it’s not that you are righteous forever. However, you do get a second chance to get it right.
Review Mark 2:17 again. Jesus said he’s calling sinners to repentance. Those who are in the sinning group (remember only 2 groups righteous and not) are to repent before it's too late.
Repentance is to change your mind, to turn from what you are currently doing.
In this case, to go from being a sinner to one who is righteous.
From one who has departed from the ways of God to one who stays on and follows his ways.
John 8:11 - She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
One more shot… Revelation to sum it up...
Revelation 15:3 - And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
God’s ways are righteous and true
If you follow God’s ways and do not depart, you will be more righteous
Revelation 16:7 - And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
Judgements are the sheep and the goats being divided. The righteous and unrighteous and their given rewards or punishments
He will judge according to his ways, law and commandments (he is king and ruler)
Revelation 22:11-12 - He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
If on that day you are unjust (not righteous) and filthy, that is what you are forever. You receive the punishment of the unrighteous
If on that day you are righteous and holy (pure, clean), that is what you are forever. You receive the reward of the righteous.
Righteousness is a big deal and is what determines quite a bit. If we seek this God will take care of our today and tomorrow, but more importantly, he will take care of our forever.