Beatitudes: Blessed are the Pure in Heart

By: Bill Bratt


One of Jesus' earliest sermons was the "Sermon on the Mount" and He gave eight Beatitudes to His disciples.

'Beatitudes' are defined as 'Supreme blessings or happiness.' 'Blessed' is defined as 'Made sacred or consecrated', 'bringing happiness.'

Let's read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, "And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. {2} Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: {3} "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {4} Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. {5} Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. {6} Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. {7} Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. {8} Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. {9} Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. {10} Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. {12} "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Let’s focus in on the sixth beatitude in verse 8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God."

Pure is defined as: "unmixed with any other matter, free from dust, dirt, or taint, spotless, free from moral fault or guilt, marked by chastity, ritually clean."

The Greek word for ‘pure’ here in Matthew 5:8 is ‘katharos,’ which means, to be "clean, clear, pure, blameless, unstained from guilt."

The Greek word for ‘heart’ here is ‘kardia,’ which means, "the heart, i.e. (fig.) the thoughts or feelings of the mind." The heart is where our thoughts, will, character and seat of emotions reside.

When a person is guilty of sin, it is difficult to be close to God. Let’s notice what Isaiah says,"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).

Our sins have separated us from God. What do we do? You must repent. (Acts 2:38). You must "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. and {8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:7-8 ).

Notice that we must ‘purify our hearts.’ Now along with repentance, we must confess our sins.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

What is righteousness? The answer is found in Psalms 119 verse 172, "All thy commandments are righteousness."

Let’s notice an important point that Jesus told us about the Pharisees, ""For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).

The Pharisees were hypocrites and did everything to be seen of men. Our righteousness must be sincere, humble and from the heart.

Let’s look at the example of King David. He committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), got her pregnant, sent her husband, Uriah, into the heat of battle and he was killed.

David was different. He sinned on different occasions but he repented. God said of David, "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will" (Acts 13:22.)

Let’s notice David’s psalm of repentance in Psalms 51.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. {4} Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. {5} Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. {6} Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. {7} Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. {8} Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. {9} Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. {10} Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalms 51:1-10).

Notice verse 10, David said "Create in me a clean heart." A clean heart is a pure heart.

To have a pure heart and mind, we must control how we think.

The apostle Paul said that we are to "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

He also said, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

I see purity relating to holiness and our conduct and how we act must be pure and holy.

Peter said, "He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy"" (1 Peter 1:15-16 ).

With each beatitude there is a reward. In this beatitude the reward is: "For they shall see God."

Jesus said, "No one has seen God at any time" (John 1:18). So how can we see God. We can God through the life of Jesus

The apostle John recorded the following in John 14 verse 8, "Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." {9} Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father."

After we are resurrected, we will see and live with God through eternity (Revelation 21 and 22). Remember, God the Father is coming to live on the earth.


Return to ICOG Newsletter Page