Blessed Are Those Who Hunger for Righteousness

Jesus gathers a crowd on a mountainside and unveils a radical redefinition of blessedness that runs counter to worldly expectations. The beatitudes present a picture of flourishing rooted not in security, wealth, or social standing but in spiritual posture: poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering for righteousness, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and endurance under persecution. Those who grieve are promised comfort through the body of Christ; those who long for justice are promised a filling that comes from Christ and the Spirit; those who suffer for righteousness are promised a place in God’s kingdom and a great reward.

The text pushes listeners to evaluate where satisfaction is sought. Earthly fullness is temporary and leaky; spiritual fullness in Christ is overflowing but must be pursued daily because human weakness allows holiness to drain away. Living out these beatitudes will often put followers at odds with the surrounding culture—provoking slander, isolation, and persecution—but such opposition places them in continuity with the prophets and secures a heavenly inheritance.

Practical care flows from these truths. Mourning summons the community’s comfort; hunger for righteousness demands regular spiritual nourishment beyond weekly worship; peacemakers and the pure in heart bear visible witness to God’s presence. Communion is held up as the ongoing reminder: Christ’s broken body and shed blood form the covenant that equips the people to live these countercultural beatitudes. The liturgy of the table sends the gathered out: filled, remembered, and commissioned to embody righteousness, mercy, and peace in daily life, even when doing so invites opposition.

Overall, the invitation is straightforward but costly: embrace the soul-conditions Jesus calls blessed, receive the Spirit’s filling, let the community comfort and strengthen, and stand firm when persecution comes—because in doing so, the kingdom belongs to those very ones whom the world would overlook.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Redefining what "blessed" means Jesus reframes blessing away from material security toward spiritual states that expose dependence on God. Blessedness becomes a posture—vulnerability, sorrow, meekness, hunger for righteousness—that opens people to God’s reign rather than to self-sufficiency. This redefinition calls for a persistent interior conversion of desires and values. [31:24]
• 2. Blessing found in mourning's comfort Grief is not an anomaly to be ignored but a season through which the community becomes Christ’s comforting presence. The promise is not a removal of pain but a faithful accompaniment: the body of Christ reaches in, upholds, and sustains those who mourn. That accompaniment reveals God’s nearness and converts loss into a channel of grace. [35:18]
• 3. Hunger and thirst for righteousness Desiring right relationship with God and neighbor is an appetite meant to be satisfied by Christ and the Spirit, and that satisfaction endures. Because human sin causes spiritual "leakage," regular nourishment—prayer, fellowship, sacrament—is required to remain filled. Cultivating a daily hunger reorients life from consumption to dependence on God’s transformative grace. [39:36]
• 4. Persecution confirms kingdom belonging Resistance and slander that come from living righteously do not indicate divine absence but rather participation in the prophetic tradition. Suffering for Christ’s sake identifies one with God’s purposes and secures a heavenly recompense that outlasts temporal cost. Therefore enduring opposition with joy is a mark of faithful discipleship and future hope. [44:08]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:49] - Announcements & Offering Changes
• [10:39] - Events & Ash Wednesday
• [11:12] - Opening Prayer
• [27:53] - Epiphany: Matthew's Context
• [29:35] - Reading: The Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12)
• [31:24] - Exploring "Blessed"
• [35:18] - Mourning and Comfort
• [37:22] - Hunger for Righteousness Explained
• [42:45] - Persecution and Heavenly Reward
• [50:15] - Communion: Remembrance & Invitation
• [60:04] - Closing Song & Sending

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon:

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and he sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. He said,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Observation questions

1. Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by describing certain groups of people as "blessed." What are the specific qualities or circumstances of these groups that Jesus highlights? [29:35]
2. The sermon suggests that our cultural understanding of "blessed" often involves material security and comfort. What examples were given to illustrate this worldly view of blessing? [32:11]
3. The passage mentions that those who mourn will be comforted. How was the nature of this comfort described in the sermon? [35:56]
4. The sermon emphasizes that the "filling" promised to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness is complete and enduring. What was the analogy used to explain why this spiritual filling is needed regularly? [39:36]
5. The sermon connects persecution for righteousness' sake to the experience of the prophets. What was the outcome for the prophets who spoke truth to power? [47:26]

Interpretation questions

1. The sermon challenges the common understanding of "blessed" by presenting qualities like poverty of spirit, mourning, and meekness as sources of blessing. How does this redefinition of blessedness shift our focus from self-sufficiency to dependence on God? [31:24]
2. The sermon describes mourning as a difficult experience, but finds blessing in the comfort provided by the "body of Christ." What does this suggest about the role of the community in experiencing God's presence during times of grief? [35:56]
3. The sermon explains that the spiritual "leakage" we experience due to our sinfulness necessitates regular spiritual nourishment. How does this understanding of human weakness inform our approach to spiritual disciplines like prayer and fellowship? [39:36]
4. The sermon states that persecution for righteousness' sake is not a sign of divine absence but rather a confirmation of our belonging to God's kingdom. How does this perspective help us to understand and respond to opposition when we stand for what is right? [43:03]

Application questions

1. Jesus calls us to embrace a spiritual posture that is often contrary to worldly expectations. In what specific areas of your life might your definition of "blessed" need to shift to align more closely with Jesus' teaching? [33:18]
2. When you or someone you know is going through a difficult time of mourning, how can we, as the body of Christ, more actively reach out, uphold, and sustain them, reflecting the comfort Jesus promises? [35:56]
3. The sermon highlights that our spiritual "filling" can leak due to human weakness. What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate a daily hunger and thirst for righteousness, seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit beyond Sunday worship? [40:39]
4. Living out the Beatitudes can sometimes lead to opposition or slander. When you face such challenges for standing for righteousness, how can you remember Jesus' words to "rejoice and be glad" and find strength in the heavenly reward? [44:08]
5. The sermon connects the practice of communion to remembering Christ's sacrifice and being equipped to live out these countercultural Beatitudes. How can you intentionally remember Christ's broken body and shed blood this week as you navigate daily life and potential opposition? [51:26]
6. The liturgy of the table sends us out to embody righteousness, mercy, and peace. What is one tangible way you can actively practice righteousness, mercy, or peace in your interactions this week, even if it invites opposition? [52:28]