Malcolm Cox

Introduction What would it be like to preach and teach through the filter of the beatitudes? What would the impact be on us as speakers and our congregations as listeners? Today, we will look at the fourth beatitude: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”(Matthew 5:6 NIV11) The fourth beatitude follows naturally from the first three: ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:3–5 NIV11) 1. The Meaning in the context of the Gospel     - The call is not passive.  Although we can do nothing to ‘increase’ our own righteousness in God’s eyes, we are still responsible for hungering and thirsting after the right things.     - Perhaps it is exemplified by the attitude of Paul, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” (Phil