Words about the WORD - Brian Anderson - Albany United Pentecostal Church
The Beatitudes, Part 2
By Pastor B. Anderson
Text: Matthew 5:6–8
6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Have you ever been truly hungry—or deeply thirsty? Hunger is more than a craving; it’s an intense need. Thirst can become so urgent that it pushes aside even the thought of food. Many of us have worked so hard or gone so long without a break that we’ve said, “I’m more thirsty than hungry—just give me something to drink.” Other times, it’s the hunger that overtakes us, and we eat quickly and without hesitation. But what happens when you’re both hungry and thirsty at once? That’s a condition that demands immediate and total satisfaction.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” He wasn’t talking about physical appetite. He meant our deepest longing should be for what is right—what is holy. He invites us to desire righteousness with the same urgency and desperation we would have if our lives depended on a meal or a drink. Because spiritually speaking, they do. The promise He offers is not partial or symbolic. He says, “They shall be filled.” Not grazed, not teased—filled. And not with our righteousness, which Isaiah says is as filthy rags, but with His righteousness, poured out through the infilling of His Spirit.
Blessed Are the
Merciful
Mercy isn’t just a feeling—it’s a call to action. The Bible teaches us not only to endure our own hardships but to walk alongside others in theirs. Colossians 3:12 tells us to put on “bowels of mercies,” and this means we must feel deeply for others and then act on that compassion.
Real mercy involves caring for both the physical and spiritual needs of others. We should feel for the lost, the broken, the confused, and the hurting. Mercy means warning the careless, teaching the ignorant, comforting the sorrowful, and helping the poor. James 2:15–16 challenges us: what good is it to wish someone warmth and fullness if we don’t lift a finger to help them? 1 John 3:17 goes further: if we shut our hearts to those in need, how can we say the love of God lives in us?
Isaiah 58 paints a vivid picture of what happens when we practice mercy. God promises that when we care for others, “then shall thy light break forth as the morning… and the Lord shall guide thee continually.” The mercy we extend opens the door to the mercy we receive.
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
When Jesus spoke of purity of heart, He was saying more than “avoid sin.” He was speaking to our motives. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Our intent is our mindset—the inner purpose behind our actions. Our motive is the reason we do what we do.
It’s entirely possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons. Some businesses use Christian branding to attract customers—not because they honor Christ, but because it helps sales. Sadly, some people attend church or participate in ministry for social status, obligation, or appearance rather than genuine devotion. Jesus reminds us that only the pure in heart—those with right motives, uncluttered by self-promotion or hidden agendas—will truly see God.
Let this be our prayer: that we hunger and thirst for righteousness with intensity, that we show mercy as freely as we’ve received it, and that we live with pure hearts—because it’s not just about looking holy, it’s about being holy.
