Is my heart pure? This is a question only you and God know the answer to. No one can look into your heart but you and God. Others may have an idea of what is in your heart by your actions, but we have learned how to clean up the outside so that we appear to be exactly what we are supposed to be.
In Matthew 23:25, Jesus reprimands the scribes and Pharisees and calls them hypocrites. They were great at putting up an appearance of doing what is right. They made sure all the ceremonial laws were kept. They were extremely diligent at observing all the washings and rituals required by their traditions, but Jesus saw their heart and said they were full of extortion and wickedness.
Matthew 23:25 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
Today we will look at the “be attitude” in Matthew 5:8. The first thing we learn from this beatitude is that Jesus is concerned with our hearts. It is not enough to clean up our act on the outside.
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
I believe Jesus uses the phrase “pure in heart” because the heart reveals who we really are. You may be able to keep the contents of your heart private and bottled up for a long time. You may be able to fool a lot of people, but eventually what is in the heart will come out. You may say things that you don’t mean, but Matthew 15:18 reveals that the root of your words is in the depth of your heart. That is where evil thoughts start.
Matthew 15:18-19 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”
Jesus is deeply concerned about our hearts. A pure heart affects every area of our life and it is impossible to be meek, merciful, thirst and hunger for righteousness, or mourn over our sins without a pure heart. A pure heart is crucial to becoming a Christian. We must come to Jesus as someone who is bankrupt and cannot help themselves. We come begging for forgiveness and mercy. Knowing that there is nothing in and of ourselves that merits salvation. Our heart must be purely seeking God if salvation is granted. He knows if we are sincere and we truly want to turn from our sins. I believe there are many who feel sorry for things they have done, but never truly repent, therefore, there is no salvation. They cry out to God, but they do so with no intention of surrendering to Him as Lord of their lives. Sometimes they fool themselves and others, but God knows the truth.
I Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Jesus came to clean up our dirty hearts not just change a few of our bad habits. To have a pure heart we must be learning what the bible says pleases God, and live by it. We do that by studying on our own, going to Sunday School or small groups where the Bible is taught, attending all church services, fellowshipping with God’s people, and praying. We are to have a single mind in our devotion to Him. Everything we do is to reflect who he is. We are to live with moral purity, examining our lives for areas that do not please God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can become aware of these areas and change for His glory.
I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
The promise that is given to the pure in heart is to see God. While we know that everyone will see Him one day, those who are pure in heart will see Him as their merciful Savior. Because of their pure heart, they have found favor in God’s eyes. Those who are not pure in heart will see Him as their judge. Matthew Henry says, “it is the perfection of the soul’s happiness to see God.” When we are pure in heart, we understand the blessedness of seeing God. We are and will be fully satisfied to see Him, to know Him. Seeing Him becomes our hope, the joy of our soul, and the comfort and peace we need from day to day. We are fully satisfied knowing we will see God.
Excellent.