Being Pure of Heart
Notes
Transcript
When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who inquire of him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
For the 1st century Jew, the heart was not the center of emotion, it represented the whole of one’s being.
For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.
Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.
Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,
because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
What does it mean to have a pure heart?
Will you let the Holy Spirit have access to your heart?
What is He prompting you to do?