Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

Introduction

Could you take the Word of God with me and turn to the book of Matthew chapter 5.

[Pause, let people get there, then speak.]

Tonight, we have an appointment with the Great Physician—the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s an unusual doctor’s office—in our text it’s a mountaintop, and here it’s a parking lot. But this Doctor loves every single one of you sitting out on this parking lot, and He knows you better than you know yourself. John 2:24-25 says of the Lord Jesus that He “knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” The Lord Jesus is the great Heart Doctor—He knows what is going on inside your heart tonight. He knows you better than your parents, better than your spouse, better than your siblings, better than your children. And tonight, He is going to take the Word of God and expose what’s going on in your heart—He’s going to reveal the “thoughts and intents” of your heart that no one else can see. And like any good doctor, if He informs you that something isn’t as it should be, He’s going to give you a diagnosis, and He’s going to prescribe a treatment for you.

So, you have two options this evening:

You can let the Great Physician examine you. You can open your heart and say, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” You can let Him expose what isn’t right, you can accept His diagnosis, and you can take the treatment that He prescribes. You can get your heart right tonight. That’s your first option. And oh what a glorious thing it would be if we let Him do that with all of us this evening!

But you also have another option. You can let this opportunity slip away. You can be like that soil on which the seed of God’s Word fell, but because the soil didn’t understand the importance of what it was receiving, Satan’s birds came and snatched away the Word of God before it could take root in the heart. You can sit in the Doctor’s office tonight and daydream. You can let the devil snatch away the life-changing truth of God’s Word.

The choice is yours. What will it be?

We’re going to pray in a moment, and we’re all going to have an opportunity to talk to the Great Physician. Open your heart to Him, and ask Him to examine you tonight. Ask Him to help you concentrate. I know it’s been a long day for most of you here, but the Great Physician knows that. He knows what it feels like to be exhausted, and He can help you get through this Doctor’s appointment. Ask Him to examine your heart and give you His diagnosis; then commit to take whatever treatment He prescribes.

Read text (Matthew 5:8).

The Ultimate Beatitude

Tonight, we come to this ultimate Beatitude, which towers above all the rest. It holds all the other Beatitudes in its hand—it is the summary of all of them. This one character trait (to be pure in heart) involves being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, being meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, being merciful, and being a peacemaker. And the promise attached to this Beatitude (they shall see God) summarizes all the other promises.

The kingdom of heaven is “blessed” because its inhabitants SEE GOD HIMSELF—they live in His immediate presence.

The comfort of heaven is “blessed” because we SEE GOD HIMSELF wiping away all tears from our eyes.

Inheriting the earth is “blessed” because we SEE GOD HIMSELF reigning.

To be filled with Christ’s righteousness is “blessed” because it allows us to enter God’s presence and SEE GOD HIMSELF.

And to obtain mercy is "blessed” because we can SEE GOD HIMSELF without receiving the judgment that we deserve!

THE BLESSEDNESS OF ALL THE BEATITUDES IS SUMMED UP IN THIS GLORIOUS STATEMENT THAT THE PURE IN HEART…SHALL SEE GOD.

But that leads us to ask the question...

What does it mean to see God?

If you’re taking notes, you can make this question a large heading: What does it mean to see God? Now, we’ve looked at how all the other Beatitudes’ promises involve being in the presence of God—in His kingdom, to be comforted by Him, etc. So, we could simply define “seeing God” like this:

To “see God” is to be in His presence and enjoy it.

To “see God” is to enjoy being in His presence.

Hold on to that definition, and we’ll come back to it.

Let me give you a few points under this heading which I hope will make it clear what it means to see God.

We see God revealed us in His Word. (turn to John 1.)

Read John 1:1-4, 14.

Ok, so this Word of God is the Son of God Himself, and He became flesh at Bethlehem (became a man without ceasing to be God). But why did He do this?

John 1:18

Now, you might say, Wait a minute, in the Old Testament, Job saw God, and Moses saw God, and Isaiah saw God—why does this verse say that “no man” has ever seen Him?

No man has ever fully apprehended with the eyes or the mind Almighty God—He simply cannot fit in the scope of our eyesight or our mind’s eye! He is a “Spirit,” and spirits cannot be seen. When God revealed Himself to people in the Old Testament (like Job, Moses, and Isaiah), it was always in a limited sense—a cloud, or an angelic body (like the Angel of the Lord), etc.

But the Lord Jesus came to earth, became a Man without ceasing to be God, and so “declared” or “fully revealed” God the Father like never before.

He became flesh and could be seen with the eye, touched with the hand—up close and personal.

Could you turn to John 14:9-11?

Do you realize the significance of what Jesus is saying? To “behold the Lamb of God” in the pages of Scripture is to see God Himself!

And it’s not just in the New Testament that we find the Lord Jesus—the entire Bible points to Him.

That’s why in Luke 24, we read that Jesus “expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself”— “all things…which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning [Him].”

But wait, remember our definition of “seeing God”? To be in His presence and enjoy it

There are a lot of people who read the Bible, or listen to a sermon about Jesus, but they don’t enjoy it—in fact, it means nothing to them. They don’t experience the Presence of God. Why is that?

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

This brings us to our second point.

You cannot see God if the light isn’t turned on.

The natural man—the unsaved person—does not understand the truth of God’s Word because he is in spiritual darkness. In his sinful state, he is a child of the devil, and he is blinded to the truth. He just can’t see God. Could you turn to...

John 1:4-5 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

The average person just doesn’t understand the significance of Jesus, and they don’t care. Why? Because...

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Wow, it could not be stated better than that. Jesus is the “light of the world”—the “image of the invisble God” (Col 1:15)…through His light, we can see God.

But Satan blinds people to the truth, and even worse than that, unbelievers wilfully choose to reject the light of Christ, even when they are exposed to the light and given an opportunity to be “rescued out of darkness.” People choose to remain in darkness because they like it.

Turn to John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

That’s why people hate the Lord Jesus—because His perfect life and teaching expose their sinful deeds, and they would rather enjoy the darkness of their sin than come to the light.

So, here’s what we need to understand from all that: a person can’t see God until the light has been turned on in his or her heart! Naturally, the light is off and people are blinded to the truth.

But how does a person get the light turned on in their heart, so that they can see God?

How does a person get the light turned on, so that the Bible begins to make sense, and they begin to experience God’s presence in His Word?

To turn the light on, you have to be born again.

Look at John 3:3. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When you believed on Christ and were “born again,” the Holy Spirit made you a “new creature” (II Cor 5:17)—with a new birthday and a new identity as a child of God. You experienced “the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). All your sin, and guilt, and the darkness in your heart was washed away, and the light was turned on in your heart.

In other words, when you were born again, you were given a new, purified heart, which was immediately lit up by the Holy Spirit of God, so that you—a man or woman who used to be a blind sinner—could now see God. You used to be a dead man in the dark, but the Holy Spirit “quickened” you—made you alive, and gave you eternal life.

This is how God describes it for us in I John 1:5-7 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

And this Christian life is a daily experience of seeing the Lord Jesus more and more, and being changed into His image.

God turns the light on so that you can see Him in His Word.

That’s the whole point! God wants us to SEE HIM. He wants us to have FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. So He turns the light on, so that we can see Him.

Turn to II Corinthians 3:14-18 “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

THIS IS HOW GOD HAS RESTORED US TO THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED!

Remember Adam & Eve? God made them to have a close relationship with Himself. He created them, so that they could see Him and enjoy His love.

But when they sinned, that spiritual part of them—made to have a close relationship with God--immediately died and they were separated from God; their heart became darkened by sin. They were banished from the garden, and their fellowship with God was never the same.

They were originally created in the image of God, but after they sinned, their ability to reflect God’s image was greatly marred.

Illustration: If you drop a loonie in a mud puddle, you might still be able to tell that it’s a loonie, but you won’t be able to see the queen’s face unless you clean off the mud.

But look at verse 18 of II Corinthians 3. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Through the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not only restored to that glorious privilege of seeing God, but at the same time, we are restored to our original purpose of reflecting God’s image!

By looking at the Lord Jesus—the Word of God—day after day…by “seeing God” daily…by experiencing the Presence of God and enjoying it on a daily basis, we are changed into His image. IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT! THIS IS [as the quote goes] “THE CHIEF END OF MAN--TO GLORIFY GOD AND ENJOY HIM FOREVER.”

The more time you spend in His Word, getting to know the Word, getting to know God’s Son, the more you get to see God. And the more you see Him, the more you become like Him.

Have you heard the quote, “You are who you hang around”? That brings us to our fifth, and final, point.

The more you see God, the more pure your heart becomes.

When you got saved, you were 100% cleansed from your sin—your heart was “sprinkled from an evil conscience,” and all your guilt was washed away. With the light turned on in your heart and the Holy Spirit dwelling there, you suddenly became very aware of sin and started to feel bad about things that never bothered you before. This is because God’s light exposes all sin.

Now, when your heart was cleansed at salvation, all of your bad habits didn’t immediately go away—you just became fully aware that those habits were sinful, and for the first time you were enabled by the Spirit of God to overcome those sinful habits.

God left your free-will intact—you still get to choose between good and evil. But God urges you to “present” yourself as a “living sacrifice” to Him, so that He can “transform” you by the “renewing of your mind” ( Romans 12:1-2).

God took you on as His project — His “workmanship.” And His goal is that you would see Him every day—that you would walk in His light, enjoying fellowship with Him, letting Him purify your heart when sin shows up…changing you into His image.

And He’s doing all of this in your life to prepare you for that glorious day when you see Him face to face for the first time.

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face...”

Turn to I John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

That’s how it works—He placed you in the light so that you could see Him, enjoy fellowship with Him, and be changed into His image. And He’s doing all of this to prepare you for that great day when you will stand before Him face to face and give account for how you lived your life.

Conclusion

Let me close with a critical question. How you answer this will reveal the state of your heart—whether it’s pure or not, whether you’re ready to see God.

Is “seeing God” the most blessed thing in your life?

This beatitude that we’ve looked at tonight—it says “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Why are the pure in heart blessed? Why are they so abundantly happy? Because they can’t wait to SEE GOD. They’re delighting in the privilege of seeing Him “through a glass darkly” in this life, but they cannot wait for the day when they will finally see Him face to face.

Is that you tonight?

Do you treasure this great privilege of communing with God?

Is your relationship with God what makes you “blessed”?

If not, you’re looking to get your happiness elsewhere (maybe it’s relationships, career, fun, etc.)

Is this your GREATEST PURSUIT—getting into the presence of God and SEEING HIM? Becoming more like Him, is that your greatest desire?

If not, you’re settling for animal instincts. God created you as a human being for the sole purpose of seeing Him and reflecting His image.

To settle for anything less is to be a practical evolutionist!

Now, what about that great day when you stand face to face with God? The thought of seeing your risen Lord in glory? Does that thrill your soul to think about it?

Or does it cause you to fear?

Does your heart have no response?

If you’re not “seeing God” (getting in His presence and enjoying Him) regularly; if the thought of seeing Him face to face gives you any other thought than that of pure delight...

There’s a problem with your heart—it’s not pure, that’s the diagnosis. And the Great Physician wants to prescribe treatment for you tonight. Here it is:

Get it clean

I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2. Get it “single”

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Matthew 22:37-38 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

The Lord Jesus has made this possible.

When we came to Him poor in spirit, recognizing that we’re beggars...

When we mourned over our sin and recognized how wicked our hearts are...

When we bowed before Him in meekness...

Hungering and thirsting after the righteousness that only He can provide,

HE FILLED US WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE SATISFIED US WITH HIS LIKENESS. HE RESTORED US TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT WE WERE CREATED TO ENJOY.

And He did all of this because He is merciful.

He purified our hearts so that WE CAN SEE GOD—so that we can behold His glory now and forever.