What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Hunger and thirst for righteousness, mentioned in Matthew 5:6, illustrates a deep yearning for the righteousness that only God can provide. This longing arises from the awareness of personal sin and the insufficiency of our own righteousness. As believers, we acknowledge that we are spiritually bankrupt and cannot achieve a right standing before God apart from His grace. Therefore, to hunger and thirst signifies a desire for the righteousness of Christ to be imputed to us. God's promise that 'they shall be filled' reassures us that those who earnestly seek His righteousness will indeed be satisfied, as they find their fulfillment in Christ.