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Produced by Simon Siew

1/16

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 Siew

2/16

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.

Produced by Simon Siew

3/16

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 Siew

4/16

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 Siew

5/16

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

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6/16

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.

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).
Produced by Simon Siew

7/16

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 Food and water is important for
us that we all make time for our
water, will find it.
3 meals - it is one of those
things that we need not be told
to do! Produced by Simon Siew

8/16

Third important truth of this Beatitude

Produced by Simon Siew

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.
9/16

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!

Produced by Simon Siew

10/16

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

11/16

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.

Produced by Simon Siew

12/16

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

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.
Produced by Simon Siew

13/16

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.

Produced by Simon Siew

14/16

Ellen Whites 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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15/16

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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