Matteo 5:6

Having named a few negative virtues, the Lord next mentions some positive qualifications which should characterize His disciples: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.

This righteousness is not that of Christ, imputed by faith, in which case this one sentence of Gospel would be out of place in the admonitions concerning the life and behavior of His followers. It is the external righteousness before the world, the piety of life which He here urges. "Therefore understand here the external righteousness before the world, as we comport ourselves one toward another. That this, briefly and simply, is the meaning of these words: That is a truly blessed person that always continues and with all his might strives after this, that all things everywhere be in proper order and every person do right, and helps to hold and further such a condition with words and deeds, with counsel and action.

" The disciples of Christ should hunger and thirst, be extremely eager for the possession of such piety, in order to receive the blessing of a full and complete satisfaction. This is God's reward of mercy for virtue, not only the happy, conviction of things well done, but, according to His will, also temporal recompense. Psalms 37:25; Isaiah 3:10; Proverbs 11:18-19; Proverbs 14:34, and finally an acknowledgment of the virtue in heaven, Psalms 36:9; Revelation 7:16; Psalms 17:15.