The Pure In Heart

I would think that we all realize that when God’s children have been resurrected and ultimately conformed to the image of His dear Son, they will all have “pure hearts and see God”. But scripture clearly teaches that the child of God is to have a “pure heart” in this time world. Paul told Timothy, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned ---“ (1 Timothy 1:5). A pure heart is closely related to a good conscience and unfeigned faith. Unfeigned means without pretense. Peter wrote, “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: --“ (1 Peter 1:22). A pure heart is closely related to “unfeigned love of the brethren”, i.e. that is love without pretense or hypocrisy.

The Psalmist wrote “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah” (Psalms 24:3-6). We can see from this Psalm that a pure heart is necessary in order for one to truly worship God in Spirit and in Truth. True worship is calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart, as Paul told Timothy “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

It seems to me that in order to understand this Beatitude we must ask these questions: What is the Heart? Is it Just the Mind? Or is the Heart man’s innermost being? What is the Heart under consideration in Matthew 5:8?

I. The words Heart and Mind are often used interchangeably.

A. In Hebrews 8:10 and 10:16 we find a quote from Jeremiah 31:33

1. Jeremiah 31:33 reads, “After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

2. Hebrews 8:10 reads, “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts” – which seems to make the “inward parts” of Jere 31:33 the “mind”.

3. Hebrews 10:16 reads, “I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” – which shows that the “mind” and “heart” are interchangeable.

B. Elsewhere in the Word of God the Heart is equated to the Mind.

1. In Genesis 6:5 it reads, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Note the words “the thoughts of his heart“.

2. Consider these passages which use the “heart” and “mind” as the same:

I Samuel 2:35, I Chronicle 28:9, and Matt 22:37 (Mark 12:30, Luke 20:27).

C. We Know “The Heart” under consideration is More than the Organ that Pumps Blood – Most of us who have had “open heart surgery” know this truth.

1. Man Is Body, Soul & Spirit - see I Thess. 5:23 see Gen. 2:7

2. Man is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - see Psalms 139:14

3. God Controls The Soul - see Ezek. 18:4 see Matt 10:28

D. Our Mind (or heart) Controls Our Emotions, Attitudes and Behavior?

1. LUST of the Flesh produces Sin - see James 1:13-15

2. LUST is a Mental Condition - see Matt 5:28 with 15:19 and Mark 7:21

E. The Mind Has Conscious and Sub-Conscious Aspect

1. When we Burn or Cut ourselves we have a Conscious Reaction

2. Our Sub-Conscious Mind Controls our Inner Most Being.

** IMO, the Heart is the Inward Most Part of Man’s Mind – the Center of UNFEIGNED Desires, Feelings, Thoughts & Beliefs – More than fleshly Emotions and Mere Intellect

II. The World Offers Many Imitations of a “Pure Heart” Religion

A. INTELLECTUALISM – Head Knowledge with Lip Service

** Today there is Great Emphasis on “Positive Thinking” - Meditation

1. New Age Movement teaches Jesus is a Spiritual Guru or Guide

2. Transcendental Meditation teaches Humans have forgotten their

Inner Divinity and this can be rediscovered by solemn Meditation

3. Condemned by Christ - see Matt 15:7-9 by Paul – see II Tim 3:5-7

B. SINLESS PERFECTION – Idea one can achieve pure Holiness in the flesh

Is taught by many Pentecostal or Holiness groups – see Romans 7:14-25

C. ISOLATIONALISM – See, Hear and Touch No Evil – Cp the Monks

1. We are IN the World – Not of the world - see John 17:12-17

D. CEREMONIALISM – Perfect in Legalism, Formalism, Ritualism

1. Condemned by Christ - see Matt 6:5, 16 “God looks upon heart”

E. LOVISM - If one LOVES Every Body and Every Thing they are Pure

1. A MUSHY Un-Biblical Philosophy that Puts Love above Truth

2. A Pure Heart produces UNFEIGNED Love - see I Peter 1:22

III. One Must Strive To Have a Pure (Heart) Mind in Time – see Rom 12:1-2

A. A Pure Heart Comes by being Transformed and Renewing the Mind

B. The Mind is Like a Storage Bin = Garbage In – Garbage Out

1. We are told what to THINK about – see Phil 2:5 4:6-9

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

IV. What Is Meant by “They Shall See God” - Is this a promise to be fulfilled after death or spiritually in this Lifetime?

A. NO MAN Has Ever Seen God - see John 1:18

B. Moses Wanted to See God - see Exodus 33:13-23

C. We Must see God through the EYE of Faith - see Heb 11:1

1. Cp Thomas - see John 20:24-29

V. Ways We SEE GOD in Time. “For they shall see God”

A. To SEE Christ is to SEE the Father - see John 14:8-9

1. Thomas called Christ “My God” - see John 20

B. We Can See God in His Creation - see Psalms 19:1

1. Take Time to Smell the Roses – View His Creation

C. We Can SEE God in the Scriptures - see John 5:38

1. The Spirit of God Reveals Truth to Us in The Word

2. The Word of God Reveals God to us - see John 16:13-15

D. We Can See God as Isaiah Saw Him - see Isa 6:1-5

1. God is on His Throne Today - see Heb. 1:3

2. Christ Makes Intercession For Us Today - see Heb 7:25

E. We Can See The Lord as John Saw Him - see Rev. 1:10

1. John Had Seen Him on The Cross - see John 19:25-27

2. John Saw That Jesus was Resurrected - see John 20:1-10

3. John Saw Him in His Glory - see Rev. 1:10-18