Matt. 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
Purity of heart refers to
undivided devotion.
- The Greek term
was often used to describe metals which had been purified. Thus, they were pure
and unalloyed with anything else in the sense of pure gold.
This is the
biblical picture as well.
- Psalm 24:3-4 tell us that
the pure in heart are those who do not lift up their souls to falsehood or
swear deceitfully. In other words, their souls are pure and undivided.
Psalm
24:3-4 (NIV)
3 Who
may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who
may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who
does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
- James 4:8 equates purifying
the heart with getting rid of double-mindedness. This is all said in the
context of those who were trying to love God and the world at the same time. So
a pure heart is a heart free from competing devotions. It is not double-minded
but focused on one thing – loving God.
James 4:8
8 Come
near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and
purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Purity of heart can be
summed up in Jesus’ command to love God with all
your heart (Matt. 22:37). All your heart means a heart that is undivided and
singular in its devotion to God.
The focal point of the battle for
genuine Christianity is the heart.
You cannot have an impure life if you have a
pure heart. Jesus cuts through all the outer layers of life and rivets our
attention today on the focal point of the battle. It is the heart.
The Pharisees were more outwardly devoted and
committed than most of us here today. Yet, Jesus pronounced judgment on them.
Why? Because their outward devotion masked an inward corruption. Their hearts
were not pure. Jesus said they honored God with their lips but their hearts
were far from Him.
HOW CAN WE PURSUE A PURE HEART?
- Bathe your heart in the Word of God.
Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them with your truth; your
word is truth.” The Psalmist repeatedly praised the cleansing power of the Word
in Psalm 119. “Your word have I treasured in my heart that I might not sin
against you.” (Ps. 119:11).
- Pray for purity in your heart.
David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart O Lord my God
(Ps. 51:10).” He also prayed in Ps. 86:11, “Teach me Your way O Lord; I will walk in
Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
- Seize the blessings of forgiveness by
confession and repentance.
1 John reminds us that sin is ever-present. If we say we have no
sin, we are liars. Yet, John also reminds us that
"if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). He also reminds us
that "when
we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one"
(1John 2:1). He is the propitiation for our sins.
The Pure in Heart Shall See God
What does it mean to see God? There are two
senses in which we can understand this promise. One is present and one is
future.
- To see God is to have a
relationship with God by faith in Jesus Christ.
The pure in heart see God now with the eyes
of faith. They have trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore have been delivered
from spiritual blindness and darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They
now experience God in personal fellowship through Jesus Christ. Through the
Word and the Spirit, they behold the wonders of God which previously were
invisible to them because of their blindness.
- To see God is to be welcomed into
heaven where we will see Jesus Christ face to face.
Paul says that now we see dimly but one day
we will see face to face. John says that one day we will be like Him because we
will see Him just as He is. One day, the pure in heart will be welcomed into
God’s eternal heaven where we will see God with glorified eyes and behold His
glory through Jesus Christ.
Let's Go Home:
The purity of heart which Jesus speaks of
here is not something we can attain by self-effort. It comes always and only by
faith in Jesus Christ and the cleansing which flows from His cross and
resurrection. To be pure in heart, you must know Jesus Christ. Do you know Him
today?
Title : The Pure In Heart
Description : Matt. 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Purity of heart refers to undivided devoti...