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“Blessed Are the Pure in Heart”
Blessed Are The Pure In Heart (Matthew 5:8)
Wade Webster
For several weeks we have been considering the attitude that we are to have in worship (John 4::23-24). To analyze and adjust our attitudes we have been examining the beatitudes of the Bible. This week we will consider Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
God certainly wants our hearts in our worship. However, He doesn’t just want any heart. He wants a pure heart. Those are the ones who can draw near Him and see Him. The Greek word translated as pure is a very beautiful and rich word.
First, the word translated as pure means clean. God desires clean hearts. David knew this. Following his sin with Bathsheba, a sin where he had lusted in his heart for another man’s wife, David asked God to make his heart pure or clean again. Literally, he asked for God to make him a new heart - a clean heart. We read, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psa. 51:10). David knew that if there was iniquity in his heart that God would not hear him or receive him (Psa. 66:18). Connected with the idea of clean is the idea of purifying with fire. No doubt, you recall how the refiner in Bible times used fire to remove the impurities from precious metals like gold and silver (1 Pet. 1:7; Rev. 3:18). In like manner, David wanted God to burn away the dross that had been deposited in his heart. Connected with the idea of clean is also the idea of pruning. A vine is pruned or cleansed that it might be fruitful. Jesus declared, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:1-3). David wanted God to prune his heart that he might be fruitful again.
Second, the word translated as pure means free from the admixture of what is false. In other words, what is true. God wants our hearts to be true. The writer of Hebrews declared, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water”(Heb. 10:22). To draw near to God, our hearts cannot have an admixture of what is false. Many of the Jews of Jesus’ day failed in this regard. Jesus declared, “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Mat. 15:7-9). Their hearts were not free from error. They were defiled with the doctrines of men.
Third, the word translated as pure refers to that which is free from corrupt desire. As you know, God looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). He examines the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12-13). He knows if our motives are corrupt and will not receive our prayers or worship if they are. James wrote, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (Jam. 4:1-3).
As we get ready to worship this week, let’s make sure that our hearts are pure. Let’s cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Let’s burn away the impurities and prune them that they might be fruitful. Finally, let’s remove what is false and selfish from them.
