The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 5 Part 6 Rejoice Ye Pure In Heart Beatitude With Hymn
The pure in heart are blessed because they shall see God!
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
One by one Jesus shows us that we need the new heart and new spirit that God promised to give those who trust Him.
One with such a heart begins by being poor in spirit and the recognition of being devoid of spiritual life.
This leads a person to mourn over sin and have repentance toward God, as Paul puts it a "godly sorrow that leads to repentance" (See 2 Corinthians 7:10).
Their heart becomes meek and humble before God, which is right where God wants us to be.
God says He will dwell with, commune with, stay close to those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits.
The gospel of Christ is meant to lead us to salvation through repentant faith in Jesus.
Thus, those who are poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who mourn over their sin shall receive comfort from God.
Those who are meek shall inherit the new earth God is going to create.
Those who have a new heart hunger and thirst after righteousness and are filled by God.
They are merciful for they have received mercy and grace that restores their soul to God.
This leads us to Jesus teaching in verse eight.
The pure in heart are blessed and happy for they shall see God.
Who are the pure in heart? They are those whose minds, motives, and principles are pure.
They seek more than having their external actions conformed to the will of God.
The word translated "pure" means to be free from corrupt desires, free from sin and guilt.
The pure in heart have been washed by the blood of Christ and stand before the Father in Christ's righteousness, blameless and innocent.
In theological terms, we would say that the pure in heart are those whom God has justified by their repentant faith in Christ (See Romans 3:24-28; 5;1-8).
The pure in heart go on to walk in newness of life, seeing old patterns of sin pass away as their whole life becomes a new creation in Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Those who are pure in heart cleanse themselves from sin and seek holiness.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The apostle Paul also speaks to the issue of being pure in heart before God.
Those who are pure in heart cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
They confess and forsake their sins and receive cleansing through the blood of Christ (see 1 John 1:7-9).
Perfecting holiness involves getting the whole mind of Christ into our soul. "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus" (See Philippians 2:5-18).
The means of accomplishing this is by resisting and avoiding sin, in all its seducing forms.
It involves setting the fear of God before our eyes that we may seek His help to live for His glory.
Perfecting means properly to bring to an end, to finish, to complete.
The idea is of carrying out a work God began in us to completion.
Holiness begins in the regenerated heart and Paul exhorts us to make every effort that it might be complete in all its parts.
He urges us to make an effort to be entirely holy.
This is an obligation which results from the nature of God's law and His unchangeable claims on the soul.
The fact that no one is perfect does not alter His claim nor does the fact that no one will be perfect in this life weaken our obligation.
Perfecting holiness shows the deep and dreadful depravity of our heart that needs to be constantly addressed.
Thus, we must spend more time learning who God is and what His will is for our lives.
We must commit time to reading and meditating on the scriptures.
We must commit time to commune with God in prayer and to worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
The pure in heart enjoy a blessed life that mirrors how new Christians lived out their faith in the early church (See Acts 2:42-47).
Those who are pure in heart have been regenerated by the Spirit of God.
1 Peter 1:22-23 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
Peter shows us that having a pure heart begins with the new birth, receiving a new heart and new spirit from God (See Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:24-28).
Thus, we are to obey the truth through the work of the Holy Spirit in us and this purifies our soul.
The new birth coupled with the indwelling Spirit's presence, fills us with the love of God (See Romans 5:5).
This is why Christians are commanded to walk in love and to love one another, for such love is an indicator of a pure heart (See John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:2).
Those who are pure in heart desire to be holy in their heart.
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
God commands us to be holy because He is holy (See Leviticus 11:14; 19:2; 20:7).
Holiness is the standard of God and He expects us to pursue holiness, "without which no man shall see the Lord" (See Hebrews 12:14).
Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart and soul of man (See 1 Samuel 16:7).
David describes what a pure heart looks like.
Psalm 15:1-2 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2) He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
David asked two questions that are worth thinking about.
Who will abide in the tabernacle of God?
Who will live in His holy hill?
David's questions are designed to get us to examine the condition of our own heart.
We must be cleansed by the blood of Christ if we wish to come into the presence of God and worship the Father.
A pure heart is a person that walks uprightly in conformity to God's moral law.
The pure in heart seek to always do the right thing in every situation.
The pure in heart speak truth even when it is not popular to do so.
Psalm 24:3-4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Only those who have a pure heart, whose hands are clean and unsullied by sin.
The pure in heart do not waste their lives pursuing the latest experiences or accumulating more wealth.
The pure in heart speak truth and do not tell lies.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
This Psalm is David's confession to Jehovah about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite.
David cried out to God for His help and cleansing from his sin.
Only God can create a new, pure heart in us.
Only God can put His righteous Spirit in us.
This is why Jesus said "Ye must be born again" (See John 3:1-18).
This is why God promised to give us a new heart and a new spirit.
Those who are pure in heart can rejoice over the mighty work of God in their heart.
Below are the lyrics to a glorious Christian hymn and a link to an excellent performance of it.
Bob
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