Mat 5:6, You Can’t Eat Everything on the Menu.

Class Outline:

Tuesday April 9, 2024

 

Hunger and thirst have a very real, physical meaning and memory for the poor listening at the time of Jesus. It also had for them and us a metaphorical meaning - deep desire, GAL 5:24.

 

As with the physical, everyone has the mental.

 

MAT 5:6.

 

Jesus hungered in the wilderness and thirsted on the cross.

In the pursuit of righteousness we are going to find ourselves not satisfied with other things, things we might prefer at the time.

 

Jesus hungered and thirsted. Why?

 

Jesus hungered in the wilderness because mankind, including believers are often self-deceived and lazy. (MAT 4:1-4)

 

The connection is that Jesus is being tested because Israel had to be tested in the wilderness.

 

All of God’s people have to have their faith tested.

 

Trials reveal to us whether we fear and give in, or have faith and endure for the sake of righteousness (walking upright God’s way).

 

Without trials, we will not see where our allegiance lies and we will lie to ourselves about our hungers / desires.

 

Application: Something will have to be forsaken or the satisfaction of something delayed.

 

But none of these things alone are life.

 

Every test is a trial of faith and endurance. It is God revealing to you whether you really desire Him above all else, including self.

 

Righteousness is an upright standing or walking before the norm of God’s will. Trials assist our evaluation of self.

 

Whatever things you find that you have to go without, or delay the satisfaction of, will make you fear that you are not going to be fulfilled. It is the fear of going hungry or missing out. But the promise stands before you - “They shall be satisfied.” The Lord is the example:

 

1PE 2:13-25.

 

PSA 139:23-24.

 

The Lord thirsted, JOH 19:28-30. Why?

 

Roman crucifixion was more awful than anyone not going through it could imagine. But more so, Jesus thirsted in some way His entire life.

 

He thirsts when all things are accomplished, to accomplish Scripture, and when that is done, He knows His time on the cross is finished. He refuses to drink until it is over.

 

The thirst in Him is a thirst for finishing.

 

PSA 69:20-21; PSA 22:14-18

 

The reason lies in the theme of thirst in the heart of man for God; PSA 42:1-3; 63:1.

 

While you pursue (hunger and thirst) for righteousness, you will, at time, long for the face of the Lord. You are sacrificing time and again, and suffering, and persecuted and we groan within waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons (ROM 8:23; 2CO 5:2).

 

Jesus thirsted in a fallen world because He always thirsted for righteousness.

 

Closing application for us: 1CO 10:23-24, 31-33; LUK 14:13-23.

 

The hunger and thirst for righteousness will require actually going hungry and thirsty for things that are legitimate to have but get in the way of God’s will for you at that time.

 

That we must leave lusts and sins and evil desires to die of hunger goes without saying.