“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
6. Happy are they who hunger To hunger and thirst is here, I think, used as a figurative expression, “Par une figure qu'on appelle Synecdoche;” — “by a figure which is called Synecdoche,” in which a part is put for the whole. and means to suffer poverty, to want the necessaries of life, and even to be defrauded of one’s right.
Christ begins his sermon with blessings, for he came into the world to bless us (Act 3:26), as the great High Priest of our profession; as the blessed Melchizedec; as He in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed, Gen 12:3.
Commenting on Matthew 5:3-12
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst,.... Not after the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world, but after righteousness; by which is meant, not justice and equity, as persons oppressed and injured; nor a moral, legal righteousness, which the generality of the Jewish nation were eagerly pursuing; but the justifying righteousness of Christ, which is imputed by God the Father, and received by faith.