A Disciple's Be-Atitudes - #6 The Pure in Heart

#6 The Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, 
for they will see God.

The sixth beatitude has nothing to do with the physical organ.  Jesus is not talking about being free from coronary heart disease or bad cholesterol levels. The “pure in heart” describes a believer’s thoughts and emotions. A disciple that is pure in heart is spiritually healthy in thoughts and emotions.

We are not born with pure hearts. Again, our sinful nature has damaged our hearts. The natural heart has these impurities:

• ·      Covetousness
• ·      Rebellion
• ·      Discontentment
• ·      Hatred
• ·      Bitterness
• ·      Unforgiveness

We must confess that we are all full of sin. If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Many people are living a false life by believing that they are self pure and good. Scripture teaches us:  For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15:19) The Apostle Paul wrote:  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18) God himself declared: “…every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.” (Genesis 8:21b)

“Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; 
I am clean and without sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)

We need to ask this important question: How can we obtain a pure heart? Answer:  It is through the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. We have a promise recorded in the tenth chapter of Acts: ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”  This is the faith we must process to obtain a pure heart.

It is by this faith that the Holy Spirit transforms our impure hearts into pure in hearts (Galatians 3:2). This is the only way our impure hearts can be pure in thoughts and emotions.

And what shall be our reward? We who are pure in heart will see God. How? We are sinner saints while we live on this earth. We see God only through the Word. It is the Word that allows us to have a glorious vision of His saving grace. When we study the Word we see Jesus Christ and Jesus proclaimed: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:9)

By grace, God makes you one of the pure in heart by forgiveness and by spiritual transformation, so that you may look forward to the unspeakable blessings that God has in store just for you.

Questions:

1.     What does the Scriptures suggest about the human heart?

2.     Why is being pure in heart a requirement for a disciple of Christ?

3.     Who does God reveal Himself to?

Applications:

1.    The pure in heart are those whose thoughts, emotions and wishes are clean. 

1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Revelation 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.     

2.    The pure in heart are those whose higher judgment, better feeling, truer vision, are not disturbed by the illusion of self-interest.

Psalm 24:4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

2 Timothy 2: 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Peter 1: 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.