Jesus, in Matthew 5:6, portrays a deep, inner drive to hunger and thirst after righteousness, a vital necessity for spiritual life and strength. This yearning follows the acknowledgment of spiritual bankruptcy and mourning over sin, leading to a motivation to overcome character deficiencies that God reveals. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is essential for important steps toward salvation, involving justification, sanctification, and growing into the fullness of Christ. God's will is for us to prepare to live with Him as He lives in His Kingdom, and He enables this desire, though we must choose to sacrifice ourselves to accomplish His purpose. Righteousness, as Jesus commands in Matthew 6:33, involves seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, prioritizing it above all else in life. This seeking encompasses all of God's spiritual blessings, favor, image, and rewards, aligning perfectly with the hunger-and-thirst metaphor. Jesus emphasizes that God's Kingdom and His righteousness are the top priorities, a responsibility He entrusts to us to pursue using the means He graciously provides. This hunger and thirst for righteousness begin when God calls us, revealing His purpose and standards, leading us to see our own inadequacy compared to His holiness. Though initially justified, the hunger persists as we realize God has only begun a good work in us. We must strive to keep our relationship with Him vibrant through constant communication and obedience, filling our minds with His character and purpose to maintain a sharp edge on this hunger. We desire to live life forever as He does, free of fear and pain, always creating and accomplishing good. Righteousness extends beyond a personal affair to include a social dimension, hungering for justice and integrity in community life. Though our citizenship is in heaven and our priority is the Kingdom of God, we are called to do good as we have opportunity, representing our Savior. Jesus moved to change society internally through preaching the gospel and doing good, and we, within our roles, have His authority to do likewise. Finally, this God-created hunger and thirst for righteousness come with a promise of fulfillment. When God instills this need to know Him and be like Him, it is to draw us closer and fill us with what He is. He provides understanding, wisdom, peace, thanksgiving, faith, hope, and love, enabling us to be done with sin forever and ultimately leading us to living fountains of waters where hunger and thirst will cease.