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I. He who would have the blessing promised in the text, must WANT righteousness — as a hungry man wants food. This tests the value of our superficial professions. In order to this longing he must perceive the intrinsic worth of the thing desired.

II. WHAT IS HERE MEANT by righteousness.

1. It is not the single virtue of justice or rectitude. It implies the essence of the thing, a state of mind and heart; a soil out of which all single virtues grow.

2. It is not merely a desire to see righteous-mess prevailing in the world at large.

3. It is a desire not merely for doing righteously, but for being righteous.

III. THE RESULT. I fear some are not hungering for righteousness, but for the rewards of righteousness. Worldly good cannot fill man. Intellectual attainment cannot. Goodness will satisfy. There is no condition where we cannot be satisfied in the enjoyment of righteousness. Goodness does not forsake a man.

(E. H. Chaplin.)

I. THE STATE OR CONDITION described.

1. What righteousness is it? God's justifying righteousness. The necessity for it is deeply felt. This hungering is a special condition of mind, an indication of healthy, spiritual life.

II. THE BLESSEDNESS of this state of mind. Satisfied because it quenches the desire of sin. A mark of the Divine favour. Security and permanency of the blessing. Identical with that of the glorified in heaven.

(W. Barker.)

I. WHAT IS THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?

II. WHAT IS IT THAT LEADS PERSONS THUS TO HUNGER AND THIRST? A sense of insufficiency and dissatisfaction in all created things; a sense of guilt; a perception of the utter inefficacy of all human prescriptions to remove sin or supply righteousness; a discovery of that righteousness which is " unto all and upon all that believe."

III. Those who thus hunger and thirst ARE PRONOUNCED BLESSED. Because it is the evidence of a new nature — acceptance with God. They are drawn off from the disappointing and perplexing pursuits of the things of this world; they are "filled" — satisfied — with righteousness, happiness, and finally with the likeness of God, etc. We learn that real religion is a matter of personal experience.

(Dr. J. Cramming.)See here at what a low price God sets heavenly things; it is but hungering and thirsting.

I. Do but HUNGER and you shall have righteousness.

(1)  Hunger less after the world and

(2)  more after righteousness.

(3)  Say concerning spiritual things: "Lord, evermore give me this bread."

(4)  Hunger after that righteousness which delivereth from death.

II. If we do not THIRST here, we shall thirst when it is too late.

(1)  If we do not thirst as David did (Psalm 42:2),

(2)  we shall thirst as Dives did, for a drop of water.

(3)  Oh, is it not better to thirst for righteousness while it is to be had, than to thirst for mercy when there is none to be had?

(Thomas Watson.)What an encouragement is this to hunger after righteousness! Such shall be filled. God chargeth us to fill the hungry (Isaiah 58:10). He blames those who do not fill the hungry (Isaiah 32:6). And do we think He will be slack in that which He blames us for not doing? God is a fountain. If we bring the vessels of our desires to this fountain, He is able to fill them. The fulness in God is: —

I. An INFINITE fulness.

(1)  Though He fill us, yet He hath never the less Himself.

(2)  As it hath its resplendency, so

(3)  its redundancy. It is inexhaustible and fathomless,

II. It is a CONSTANT fulness.

1. The fulness of the creature is mutable. It ebbs and changeth.

2. God's fulness is overflowing and everflowing.

3. It is a never-failing goodness.

III. God fills the hungry soul with —

1. Grace. Grace is filling because suitable to the soul.

2. Peace. Israel had honey out of the rock; this honey of peace comes out of the rock Christ.

3. Bliss. Glory is a filling thing. When a Christian awakes out of the sleep of death, then he shall be satisfied. Then shall the soul be filled brimful.

(Thomas Watson.)

I. WHAT IS HERE MEANT BY RIGHTEOUSNESS.

1. Actual and inherent righteousness; living a life in sincere and perfect obedience to all the laws of God.

2. Imputed righteousness.

II. WHAT IS IT TO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS?

1. TO contend fiercely and fight manfully against our spiritual adversaries.

2. To desire ardently and intensely for spiritual sustenance.

3. To discharge our duty in every point to the best of our skill and power.

4. To willingly suffer hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness, and the want of anything necessary for the support and comfort of life, rather than knowingly transgress any point of duty.

(Bishop Ofspring Blackall, D. D.)

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

WEB: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.