Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness, Part 1

Mat. 5:6 Sermon on the Mount

Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." He argues that this Beatitude describes the active pursuit of God's entire salvation, from justification to glorification, as the defining mark of a true Christian. Martin contrasts this with modern evangelism's focus on seeking happiness or peace directly, asserting that true blessedness is a byproduct of seeking righteousness. He illustrates this with an analogy of a tumor, emphasizing that sin is the root problem that must be dealt with for true spiritual health and joy.

3 illustrations in this sermon

The Object Stated: Righteousness in its Broadest Sense

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Love for Wife vs. Love for Pancakes

In this part of the sermon: The object of the Christian's pursuit is 'righteousness,' which in its broadest sense encompasses God's entire salvation—from forgiveness and justification to sanctification and…

Illustrates how the meaning of a word like 'love' depends on its context, emphasizing the need to understand 'righteousness' in its biblical setting.

To raise a man and woman together that for one another they'd be willing to die. Now if I was talking about I love the pancakes, well you'd have to put a different meaning on the word love. I'm not going to die for pancakes. There's some little pancakes in the frying pan and it's either his life or mine.

11:05 - 11:22 Read in full sermon

The Tumor Analogy: Addressing the Root Problem of Sin

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Football Player with a Brain Tumor

In this part of the sermon: Through an extended analogy of a football player losing his abilities due to a brain tumor, Martin illustrates that seeking to fix symptoms (lack of peace, joy) without addressing…

An extended analogy of a star football player losing his abilities due to an undiagnosed brain tumor. It illustrates that trying to fix symptoms (loss of strength, coordination) without addressing the root cause (the tumor) is futile. This highlights that seeking peace or happiness without dealing with sin is equally ineffective.

He's seeking deliverance from the sin that has robbed him of blessedness. Let me try to illustrate. Some of you fellows, especially you, perk your ears up at this. Suppose there was a young man at one of the local high schools.

20:31 - 20:48 Read in full sermon

Restoring a Lost Appetite for Righteousness

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Child Losing Appetite for Dinner

In this part of the sermon: Using the analogy of a child losing his appetite for dinner due to eating 'cheap candy,' Martin challenges believers whose hunger for righteousness has diminished. He urges them…

Compares a child losing his appetite for a proper meal due to eating 'cheap candy' to a Christian losing their hunger for righteousness by indulging in the 'cheap candy of the flesh.' It serves as a call to self-examination and repentance for those whose spiritual appetite has waned.

Then there must be the hungering and thirsting after righteousness. What would you mummies and daddies do if you got home in a few minutes and you had dinner all scheduled to go on the table about quarter after one? And that boy of yours with a hollow leg who usually comes down and devours it like he hasn't eaten for six weeks, or that girl, I don't want anybody to think I'm picking on them, came to the table this afternoon and you knew, you knew that they had breakfast at 7.30 and it's been a good long time since then.

52:21 - 52:55 Read in full sermon

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