THE BEATITUDES (7)

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8

Victor M. Eskew

 

          As the Lord continues the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:8, He continues down a very logical path.  When a person obtains the mercy of God, he is cleansed and made pure.  “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeign love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Pet. 1:22).  Every sin is washed away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  The individual’s soul is as white as snow.  Yea, it is as white as wool.

          Once the person’s soul has been cleansed, he is to seek to maintain a pure heart at all times.  Those who do will be blessed.  “Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).  In this Beatitude, Jesus us takes us directly to the control center of the individual, that is, the heart.  Solomon teaches us that out of the heart are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23).  If a man is able to keep the heart pure, then the rest of his life will follow suit.  If the heart is polluted, then pollution will pour out into the life of the individual.  Jesus affirmed this point in Matthew 12:35.  “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

          What we put into our minds is of utmost importance.  Paul agrees in Philippians 4:8.  He tells us the kind of things about which we need to think.  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovey, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  It is very difficult to think of these things in the fallen world in which we live.  Falsehood, dishonesty, injustice, corruption, ugliness, and evil reports are everywhere.  Radio, TV, phones, computers, billboards, friends, and family are all sources of evil things that enter into our minds and seek to contaminate them.  We have to give diligence to rid our minds of corruption and to fill our minds with things that are good, wholesome, and lovely.

          The best place we can start is with the Word of God.  In Psalm 19:7-9, David describes the Word of God with seven adjectives.  Every one of the words is positive in nature:  perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true, and righteous.  These words take us back to Philippians 4:8.  Yes, the Bible is filled with holy words.  These words have the ability to purge the mind of evil and enable the child of God to live a pure life.  “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  by taking heed thereunto according to thy word” (Ps. 119:9).  And again:  “Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3).  Daily study MUST be part of the Christian’s life.  If the Christian will constantly mull over the truth he studies each day, he will separate himself from sin and will live a life filled with fruit.  David sets this truth before us in the first three verses of Psalm 1.  “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also doth not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Ps. 1:1-3).

          The key to purity isn’t just possessing a knowledge of God’s Word.  The key is taking that Word and making application of it in one’s life.  Listen again to the psalmist.  “O how I love thy law!  it is my meditation all the day…I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word” (Ps. 119:97, 101).  Solomon helps us to understand the need to apply the things we know to our lives.  Solomon was blessed with wisdom by God (1 Kings 3:12).  Solomon possessed so much wisdom that God could say to him:  “…lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee all thy days” (1 Kings 3:12).  Yet, we know that Solomon did not keep his heart perfect before God.  “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods:  and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:4).  1 Kings 11:6 tells us:  “And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.”  Solomon’s wisdom was not coupled with a commitment to keep the way of the Lord.  Therefore, his life was stained with sin.  “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice” (1 Kings 11:9). 

          If the redeemed will fill his mind with God’s precious truth, and if he will commit to the practice of that truth, his life will be pure.  Too, his life will be blessed.  He can expect to see God.  “Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.”  In this life, no man has seen God at any time (John 1:18).  We see Him only through what is revealed in the pages of the Bible and in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  For those who have pure hearts, the doors of heaven will be opened unto them.  They will enter into the abode of God.  They will be able to cast their eyes on God who only is holy (See Rev. 15:4).  They will behold His brilliance.  They will behold His majesty.  They will live in the light of His countenance for eternity.  “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light:  and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). 

          Absolute purity is not obtainable on our own.  Every Christian will commit sins.  “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).  Fortunately, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).  If we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), He will stand beside us in the court of divine justice.  He will plead our case before the Father.  He will prevail therein based upon the fact that “he is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2).  His will blood will cleanse us from all sins (1 John 1:7).  With our souls washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, we hold fast to the promise that one day we will see God.