Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 5:6

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." — Matthew 5:6 (ASV)

They are not full of their own righteousness, but long for more and more of that which comes from above. They pine to be right themselves both with God and man, and they long to see righteousness prevail throughout the world. Such is their longing for goodness, that it would seem as if both the appetites of hunger and thirst were concentrated in their one passion for righteousness.

Where God works such an insatiable desire, we may be quite sure that He will satisfy it, indeed, fill it to the brim. In contemplating the righteousness of God, the righteousness of Christ, and the victory of righteousness in the latter days, we are more than filled.

In the world to come, the satisfaction of the "man of desires" will be complete. Nothing in this world can fill an immortal soul, and since it is written, They shall be filled, we look forward with joyful confidence to a heaven of holiness with which we shall be satisfied eternally.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:

Pining to be holy, longing to serve God, anxious to spread every righteous principle—blessed are they.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:

They want to be better; they are hungry and thirsty after more holiness. They do not boast of personal perfection, they are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, but they have not attained it yet.

For they shall be filled.

God will fill them; and when He fills men with His fullness, they are full indeed.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

The course of these beatitudes is like going downstairs. They began with spiritual poverty, went on to mourning, came down to gentle-spiritedness, and now we come to hunger and thirst. Yet we have been going up all the time, for here we read, They shall be filled. What more can we have than full satisfaction?