О четвертой заповеди блаженства
The Fourth Beatitude
This pericope introduces and quotes the fourth beatitude: 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.'
Question 36. What is the fourth beatitude? Answer. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt. 5:6).
The Meaning of Righteous Hunger
This pericope explains that the fourth beatitude applies to those who are unjustly wronged and cannot defend themselves, urging judges to act justly and assuring the oppressed that God hears their cries.
Question 37. What does this beatitude teach? Answer. Blessed are those people who, having been wronged, cannot defend their rights in any court, either because of their piety, their poverty, their inability, their absence, the opponent's strength, or any other unjust reason. Therefore, those presiding in courts and holding the authority to judge human affairs must, in their conscience, give every attention to ensuring that the poor, widows, and orphans are not oppressed unlawfully and unjustly. Scripture tells them: “Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). If, however, they do not care about this at all, then the oppressed—those hungering and thirsting for justice—will receive blessedness, while their judges will face God's wrath; for Scripture says: “Lord, you hear the desires of the humble; strengthen their hearts; open your ear to give justice to the orphan and the oppressed, so that no human on earth may again inspire terror” (Psalm 10:17–18).
Read the original Russian
Вопрос 36. Какое четвертое блаженство?
Ответ. «Блажени алчущии и жаждущии правды: яко тии насытятся» (Мф. 5, 6).
Вопрос 37. Чему учит сие блаженство?
Ответ. Что блаженны те люди, которые, быв неправедно обижены, не могут защищать своего права ни в каком судилище, или по благочестию своему, или по бедности, или по неспособности, или по причине отлучки, или силы противника, или по другой какой-нибудь несправедливой причине. Посему председательствующие в судебных местах и имеющие власть разбирать дела человеческие должны в совести своей обращать всякое внимание на то, чтобы бедные, вдовицы и сироты не были притеснены противозаконно и неправосудно. Писание говорит к ним: «Научитеся добро творити, взыщите суда, избавите обидимаго, судите сиру и оправдите вдовицу» (Ис. 1, 17). Если же они о сем нимало не пекутся, то угнетаемые – алчущие и жаждущие правды – получат блаженство, а судей оных постигнет гнев Божий; ибо Писание говорит: «Господи! Ты слышишь желания смиренных; укрепи сердце их; открой ухо Твое, чтобы дать суд сироте и угнетенному, да не устрашает более человек на земле» (Пс. 9, 38–39).
Orthodox Confession (Pravoslavnoe Ispovedanie) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit