Pure in Heart

Definition Pure of Heart

Context:

What was the purpose of the beatitudes?

Highlight our total depravity and point to our needs for a savior?**Describe a challenging but practical way of life the Jesus expect of his followers.​This expectation also comes with a promise.​

Blessed

Repeated nine times.All shown to be the result of a certain life ethic,Makarios - blessed, happy, fortunateMore than a circumstantial feeling of happiness.Perpetual state of contentment found in a relationship with Christ.For those who are a part of the Kingdom in the world.Tragedy in our pursuit of happiness...Seek temporary happiness from the worldAccept salvation but never seek happiness by living a life of a follower. (blessings are not automatic, they come with a life devoted and lived for Christ.)​

The next three describe their characteristic activity: they “show mercy,” bending down in the spirit of Christ to bind up the wounds and lift the spirits of the broken lives; they are “pure in heart,” which means singleness of purpose—they are absolutely committed to one overriding mission in life—to live as a disciple of the kingdom; they are “the peacemakers,” actively involved in making peace and reconciling the hostile and estranged. Jesus concludes these seven Beatitudes with the weaning that such a life will bring persecution. Yet, every one of these Beatitudes is prefaced with the word “Blessed,” which is really a shout of joy: “Oh, the happiness!” Such a life is the secret of true happiness, no matter how difficult the way may be.

Ward, W. E. (1972). Matthew. In H. F. Paschall & H. H. Hobbs (Eds.), The teacher’s Bible commentary (pp. 592–593). Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

Matthew 2. Paradigmatic Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)

Purity in heart refers to moral uprightness and not just ritual cleanliness.

Purity: absence of impurity or filth (hard for us to understand- there is always something wrong with what we get)

Purity reference to God’s holiness: Holiness is a prerequisite for entering God’s presence: impossible for us individually

Lifestyle characterized by pleasing God

Single minded devotion to God that stems from the internal cleansing created by following Jesus: singleness of purpose: without distraction: Any distracting or corrupting influence a kingdom servant allows in his or her heart makes that person less effective as a servant. heart that is undivided.

it is not manufactured by the believer, but is granted by the God of mercy

When the king grants purity of heart, he gives not only judicial purity (forgiveness, absolution from guilt- justification)

But also the act of the removal of corrupting impurities from the heart (sanctification: big word for positional purity and progressive purity towards Christlikeness)

Pur of heart is descriptive of one’s innermost being and motivations.

Heart:

inner self, never the literal body part called the “heart,” this is a reference to the areas of the inner self, including: the volition, the mind, the desires, etc., though the facility of the intellect may be slightly more emphasized (Mt 15:19; Lk 6:45 v.r.);

Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Acts 1:24, God is referred to as the Knower of the heart

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty: The King’s Denunciation (Matthew 23)

Pure in heart—defiled in heart (vv. 25–28; 5:8). Jesus used two illustrations: the cup and platter, and the sepulcher. They both stated the same truth: it is possible to be clean on the outside and at the same time defiled on the inside. Imagine using dishes that were defiled! Whatever you put into the dish or cup would also become defiled. The Pharisees were careful to keep the outside very clean, because that was the part that men would see; and they wanted the praise of men. But God sees the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). When God looked within, He saw “greed and self-indulgence” (Matt. 23:25, NIV).

Jewish people were careful not to touch dead bodies or anything relating to the dead, because this would make them ceremonially unclean (Num. 19:11ff). They would whitewash the tombs lest someone accidentally get defiled, and this was done especially at Passover season. What a graphic picture of the hypocrite: white on the outside, but filled with defilement and death on the inside!

“Blessed are the pure in heart,” was our Lord’s promise. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23, NASB). D.L. Moody used to say, “If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.” The Pharisees lived for reputation, not character.

Shall see God:

Statement of fellowship with God: Connects to Psalm 24:3-4

1 Jn 3:3

Like the Psalmist (Ps 24) who experiences God’s presence in the context of temple worship, those who act before God with single minded devotion and a genuine spirit, will, in the end experience God’s presence in a most intimate way.

Possible double meaning: the pure heart is unhindered in its ability to understand the heart of God; better able to see the plan and purposes of God. While also the pure heart (forgiven) is able to enter and enjoy the presence of God for eternity.

Not based on our merits but on the work of Christ and Christ alone.

Without holiness no man will see the Lord in heaven (Hebrews 12:14). sin fogs and clouds the heart so that one cannot see God.

Wiesrbe: We keep our lives clean; holiness is happiness to us, and we want no substitutes.

Spurgeon:

Foul hearts make dim eyes God-ward. To clear the eye we must cleanse the heart. Only purity has any idea of God, or any true vision of him. It is a great reward to be able to see God; and, on the other hand, it is of great help towards being pure in heart to have a true sight of the thrice-holy One. There are no pure hearts on earth unless the Lord has made them so, and none shall see God in heaven who have not been purified by grace while here below. Lord, create in me a clean heart, that I may behold thee, both now and for ever!

Spurgeon, C. H. (1893). The gospel of the kingdom: a commentary on the book of Matthew (p. 22). London: Passmore and Alabaster.

Those who are blessed to see God are those with individual loyalty and singleness of purpose

P: Praise: Psalm 24:3-4:

The Psalmist understands that drawing near to God in worship is conditioned upon the integrity of one’s character, not merely ritual: Tax collector beating his chest vs the Pharisee giving an ornate prayer

U: Unwavering:

R: Renewed; Righteousness

E: Encouraged

Evangelistic

S: Surrendered

T: Transformed