Sermon on the Mount; the 4th blessing:
Matt 5 v6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.See also Luke 6v21 parallel to Matt 5v6. 2nd blessing in Luke and 4th blessing in Matt.
Work for it, and go for it. Our bodies are made to sustain certain hunger and thirst. This is part of our function. We can use that to work for the Kingdom of Heaven/righteousness.
Good things do not necessarily come easy. In fact they are hard to come by most of the time.
Righteousness can satisfy the needs of hard and soft, food and drink.
It sustains as well as refreshes.
It is the price of seekers; a target to aim for. It is direction setting.
Righteousness is taught here, not love.
Love hunger and thirst for righteousness. Not vice versa. For love delights in righteousness. The scriptures have more mentioning of righteousness than love.
Faith against faith, and hope against hope.
Those who seek will find. They will be allowed/made to obtain.
God gives now and right to the end. Jehovah-Jireh.
The bible does not teach that America is Godly, God fearing and righteous just because on the bank notes, the words - "In God We Trust" are printed.
The bible does not teach that Martin Luther King is Godly because he had a dream.
MLK hardly preached any famous evangelistic sermon; he hardly called anyone to repentance from sin, sinning against God. he hardly preach the kingdom of God, the Gospel and the righteous Christ.What profits a man, when he gains the whole world and loses his own soul/life?
Where will he be going? Entering? Bestowing? Standing?
The bible never teach that Buddhism is good, serving the same purpose of doing good in the world. For all is vanity without the almighty God.
Buddhism never teach Christ as God in the flesh, working out the only salvation for mankind.
Scriptures never claim that anyone who breaks part of the law fulfills sufficiently to be called righteous.
The bible never approved M. Gandhi as righteous. He never worshipped the almighty God of Israel. Right?
M. Gandhi was practicing Janism, not Christianity. he had no God or Christ in his mind. He has never been a christian (a repentanted believer), or christian like.
He never taught people to place their trust in God. He never taught salvation by faith.
Gandhi brought nobody back to the God of Israel. No repentanted heart. No righteousness of God.
He was not poor in spirit.
The bible never equates revolution with righteousness.
God never teaches that good (in the eyes of this world) men are counted righteous; and bad men (by the principles of this world) are unrighteous.
People like Gandhi, never hunger and thirst for the righteousness of the almighty. They held to their own principles. Some might not advance them either.
Righteousness? or selfishness? Serving other gods - which is termed Idolatry in the Bible - judged and being judged as dead. And let the dead bury the dead. You come and follow Christ.
Nelson Mandela, a Nobel Peace Price winner/recipient, did not work for peace between races and countries. He did not work to disarm his country for peace, to save life. Where is universal brotherhood? Who is his God?
South Africa's cabinet has unanimously agreed to buy arms and military aircraft from European manufacturers worth $5 billion, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki said Wednesday, 18 Nov 98.
Nobody voted for peace.
Judaism:
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowmen. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary." (Rabbi Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat, 31a)Lack a positive goodwill towards all men.
Need positive expression of actively doing good to all. Without God, man can not love and see good. All his devices are filthy rags. The salvation of Christ can save them from perpetual evil.
Hinduism:
"This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." (Mahabharata 5, 1517).Is that all for righteousness?
No duty for doing good? Causing happiness? Spread joy of salvation?
Buddhism:
"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." (Udana-Varga, 5, 18)This is not seeking of the truth.
This does not lead to God, nor does it direct effort towards God.
Confucianism:
"Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you." (Analects, 15, 23)How about action towards the creator? Does He not deserve more reverence than working out the don'ts?
Taoism:
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." (T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien)Until sinners come to Christ, they are poles away from righteousness.
Hungering and thirsting is more than notion! Only Christ can satisfy all our needs.
No other gods and idols can!
Answering errancy allegation || Examining Jewish geneaology from Exodus Ch 1 ||
A Failed Prophesy on Tyre? || Another Failed Prophesy on Tyre? ||
Why 4 Gospels? || Hebrew Matthew and document Q || Census in Luke Ch 2 ( Anachronism? ) ||
Similarity warrants Recognition and Unity? || Freewill and pre-destination ||
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