Pure in Heart

May 30, 2010
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart . . .

When Jesus gave a blessing to those with pure hearts, He revealed God's highest will for each of us. It is not enough to do good deeds. We are to have clean motives as well.

Every Christian group acknowledges the verses we've been studying, but the Church of the Nazarene makes this verse one of its key emphases. Our Articles of Faith include a statement on sanctification (Article X). We stress that sanctification transforms the believer into the likeness of Jesus. Entire sanctification is being entirely devoted to God, and is characterized by a pure heart. This is also described as an infilling or baptism by the Spirit of God. Of course, there is a difference between a pure heart and a mature character.

We looked at the biblical significance of the heart. We are to guard our hearts. Out of the overflow of the heart a person speaks. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Today, we might more often use the term "mind" to describe this center of decision-making.

This verse counters "external religion." Jesus wants us to get our motivation right. To hear God, we need pure hearts (minds). We are to worship God in Spirit and in truth. The Bible speaks of God's Spirit living within us (especially in John, chapters 14 through 16). This is the foundation of our relationship with God. Impurities in our motives are impediments to building that relationship.

As David led the class, he shared verses throughout the Bible that stress God's call for pure hearts: Luke 16:15, Deuteronomy 11:18, 1 Kings 8:61, Jeremiah 31:33, 1 Peter 1:22, Matthew 12:34, Romans 10:10, Ephesians 6:6. The heart reveals to whom we are devoted.

Titus 2:11-14 describes those who have been made pure as "eager to do what is right." This is a clear description of how God changes us. This purity is to occur in our lives here on earth.

Popular religion stresses God's love and forgiveness. These are essential truths of Christianity, but they are not the only truths. This verse (Matthew 5:8) focuses us on another important truth. God is holy, and what he touches - including us! - is to be holy as well.

As time was running out, David gave some quick definitions of purity: clean, unspoiled, and winnowed (as grain without the chaff); an army purged of cowardliness and discontent; a single-minded, undivided heart. And he reminded us again that becoming mature is a life-long process.