Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
As we come to the sixth “blessing” given here by Jesus, we can see an astonishing promise given to us by our Lord. Before beholding the glory of the promise, let us strive to understand the condition preceding the promise, i.e., “The pure in heart.” Regarding this, let’s take a look at what Christ is not saying, before venturing to understand what He is saying.
What Purity Is Not
What is purity? What does it mean to be pure? No doubt we can name a host of attributes one possesses when deemed as “pure.” If we get our cues from culture, we could deduce that one’s virginity and well-covered body is considered to be the highest form of a pure person’s character. Likewise, if we take our cues from church-culture alone we might be tempted to
These are all good things and necessary steps towards a life of godliness. Modesty, abstinence, self-control, zeal, and wisdom should be characteristics present in every believer’s life, but this is not the essence of purity for the believer. I would like to take the rest of our time to remind us how great this news is to every person created and to instill gospel-hope where it’s been buried under the weight of shame and guilt, free to pursue a pure life effectively, and bringing glory to the Father.
First, I would like to point out the first component of two that I find to be most helpful in understanding what Jesus is really saying here to His disciples.
The Position of Purity
Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart…” (Matthew 5:8a)
As with most of Christ’s teachings, the heart is the aim of His grace. It is the place where salvation occurs (Romans 10:9-10), where stones are turned into flesh (Ezekiel 36:26), and from which the mouth speaks (Luke 6:35). Depending
The Greek word for “heart” in Matthew 5:8 is “καρδία” (
We so often view the words of Christ here as prescriptions, rather than promises. He knows who his audience is and is not amiss to their depravity. For the Son of God to prescribe purity apart from the gospel would imply there is another way by which we can be saved, sanctified, and ultimately glorified. The author of Hebrews is clear that there is a “holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Sitting before the disciples
The position of purity comes solely by reckoning with our impurity and, by grace alone through faith alone, trusting fully in the cross of Christ for the absolution of our sin, thereby receiving a clean heart. A beautiful exchange: Christ’s purity for our impurity. This is awesome news, friend. Jesus’ spotlessness is attributed to us– His sinless and perfect fulfillment of the law is now freely offered to those who recognize their inability to meet the standard and thrust themselves upon an able Lord for their salvation. We are granted this position in Christ for a purpose, and let’s not miss this glorious promise.
The Promise of Purity
“…for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8b)
Many will pursue purity in hopes of seeing God. Most certainly, there are times in a believer’s life where our sin can cause us to have a darkened understanding and clouded vision, resulting in half-hearted devotion. Think of King David’s fall with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:4) and the sinful pattern that occurred afterwards—deception (2 Samuel 11:6-13), cowardice, and murder (2 Samuel 11:15). Yet, we do not pursue purity “in hopes of seeing GodRather, we have seen God, placed our hope in Him, and have been purified as He is pure (1 John 3:3) and are now free to pursue being transformed into His image as we behold the glory of The Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). Jesus is proclaiming the blessing of purity under His Lordship and what follows this purity is a promise that should excite us all, “they shall see God.” For the pure in heart, the greatest thought has to be the thought of seeing their Lord. What does Jesus mean, “for they shall see God”? Christ Himself said that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father (John 14:8-9). Oh, but we are still in these bodies of death awaiting the resurrection of our glorified bodies! Indeed, God has “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Yet even still, as we consider our God who dwells in
R.C. Sproul, in answering the question of what this coming-revelation would be like, refers to Jonathan Edwards’ insight on this subject. He writes, “According to Edwards, the ultimate vision of God will be one that takes place without the eyes. It will be a direct and immediate apprehension by the human soul of the very essence of God—a completely and dramatically transcendent mode of perception. All of the barriers that prevent our seeing God will be removed, and we will be filled in our souls with direct, immediate apprehension of God.”
Filled in our souls, consumed with His glory, and every ounce of self-denial for the sake of knowing Him will be worth it. This is the position and promise granted to every Christian who hopes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will
What a promise for us to hold tightly to amidst a “crooked and perverse generation” among whom we now have the ability to “shine as lights” (Philippians 2:15). And when you fail to walk as Christ did, dear friend, be reminded Whose purity has been ascribed to you, Whose blood justifies you (Romans 5:9), and call to mind your position before the Father; the great blessing of His promise to you. Happy is the Christian whose heart is pure…for they shall see God.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Hayley is worship pastor’s wife and mother of two little girls. Her greatest passion is to see women love God’s glory supremely, His word deeply, and each other sincerely. With Texas roots, Hayley resides in Ohio with her husband, Kris, seeking to be faithful to her Lord in every aspect of life including marriage, motherhood, and ministry.
