Produced by Simon Siew1/16

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Few of us truly understand what hunger and thirst is

We live a world where water flows immediately when we turn on the tap and there is plenty of food stocked up in the fridge.

In the land of Jesus, the average annual rainfall is only 26 inches and water is always a problem.

Thus it was a most appropriate spiritual metaphor.

Produced by Simon Siew2/16

Water - a matter of life and death to the ancient travelers

In Bible lands, a traveler who lost his way or missed one of the few springs along the way could easily find himself in real trouble.

To worsen matters, the biting sand storm exacerbated his thirst a hundred fold.

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What is Jesus saying here? Jesus is asking us whether

we desire righteousness with the same intensity of desire as those ancient travelers who seek for water and food so earnestly and desperately.

Are our souls so parched and so hungry that the only thing we think about is spiritual water and manna?

Produced by Simon Siew4/16

How much do we desire eternal life? Story of the rich young ruler Matthew 19:16-22 Jesus confronted the

rich young ruler and asked him to sell all that he had and to follow him.

What Jesus in effect was saying was, “Do you want eternal life as much as that?

Produced by Simon Siew5/16

The 3 meanings of ‘righteousness (Greek word - Dikaiosune)

It is used of justification, that is to be in a right relationship with God.

It is also used of righteousness which is a pattern of life in conformity to God’s will.

It is used of justice which is seen as that of being fair, honest, clear and upright.

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First important truth of this Beatitude It lays down the

uncompromising demand of Christianity. It is not for the interested or those who are attracted to it.

It is for those who desire righteousness as a matter of life and death.

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The Christian does not say: “I am interested in Christ” but he says, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

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Second important truth of this Beatitude

It is the experience of life that if a man desires a thing sufficiently, he will take steps to get it.

Only those who long for righteousness with the same eager anxiety of a man starving for food or famishing for want of water, will find it.

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Food and water is important for us that we all make time for our 3 meals - it is one of those things that we need not be told to do!

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Third important truth of this Beatitude

It is not he who has attained righteousness who is called ‘blessed’ but he who hungers and thirsts after it.

If the blessedness was for those who had already achieved it, would be for no one as none of us are righteous.

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Fourth important truth of this Beatitude

The Greek verbs used to describe hungering and thirsting do not take the genitive case (i.e. hungering for a piece of bread)

The verbs are in the accusative case which means hungering not just for a piece of bread but for bread - the entire loaf of bread.

The person wants all of it - all the food and drink there is and not just part of it!

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Total goodness and not just part of it In this world, there are

people whose moral character are without fault (so to speak) but they are cold and hard and are without sympathy.

On the other hand, there are people who have all kinds of faults (e.g. drink and swear) but their hearts are warm.

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Both groups have a part of goodness but not the whole of it. The Christian is to hunger for complete goodness and righteousness.

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Nothing in this earth can truly satisfy us

No earthly source can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul, whether it be material riches, profound philosophies, the satisfaction of physical appetites or honor or power.

All my money is useless. They cannot buy me happiness.

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Wisdom of Solomon King Solomon - the

wisest man that ever lived concluded that ‘all is vanity’. Nothing truly satisfies us under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:2,14

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Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity….I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

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Only Jesus can satisfy our hunger and thirst

Jesus Himself is the Bread of Heaven and is the Living Water.

John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared, ‘‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

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Ellen White’s comments on this Beatitude

(Mount of Blessings p. 19, 20)

‘As the body is continually receiving the nourishment that sustains life and vigor, so the soul must be constantly communing with Christ, submitting to and depending wholly upon Him….The words of God are the wellsprings of life.’

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Chortazesthai - Greek word for ‘filled’ The Greek word means to stuff a person full to the

point of complete satiety. If a person hungers and thirsts after righteousness,

God will not send him empty but fill him to the brim. Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when

you seek me with all your heart.

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