Matthew 5:8 (NASB)
[8] "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
One of the big obstacles that Satan throws in front of people when they are confronted with a choice about the Kingdom of God is the thought that there is a level of heart purity they must attain before they are acceptable to God. That is a lie.
In fact, Satan is skilled at using the idea of heart purity negatively. He hounds us all along the way while we are on our Christian Journey here on earth. Many Christians live defeated lives because Satan keeps them confused about what it means to be pure in heart.
If you often have doubt about your relationship with God and what He wants of you, read "The Conductor" by Debi Peck. I hope you will take a look at it because it is very helpful.
Today we will take a look at what it means to be pure in heart.
Most of the time it is a good idea to make sure you understand what some of the words mean in their original language. I want to briefly look at two of the words in our text for this morning; they are pure and heart.
PURE is used in two ways.
G2513 Pure:
{the state or standing} Clean, pure, clear, in a natural sense unsoiled, unalloyed. Clean or pure in a spiritual sense from the pollution and guilt of sin (Mt 5:8, sincere, upright, void of evil; Jn 13:10,11,
{the process},[2508], to cleanse, to purify, 1Ti 1:5; 3:9; 2Ti 1:3; 2:22; Tit 1:15; Jas 1:27; 1Pe 1:22; Sept.: Ge 20:5,6; Ps 24:4; 51:10). (CWS-NT)
Understanding the word pure helps us to learn about our standing with God. I believe it becomes very clear when we study this beatitude. Our standing with God is something we enter into in a crisis moment, as well as something we live out in our daily lives. Purity in God's eyes involves both standing and process.
In this passage, Paul is giving Timothy advice on how to help his people as they live out their Christian Journey. There are three important truths we need to grasp.
2 Timothy 2:14-19 (NIV)
[14] Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
[15] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
[16] Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
[17] Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
[18] who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
[19] Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
First, Paul begins with the first crisis experience a man or woman realizes in their standing with God. This crisis experience is called salvation or initial sanctification.
In verse 19, Paul makes it easy to recognize what our standing with God should look like.
In his discussion with Timothy, Paul moves from salvation to the second work of grace called entire sanctification.
2 Timothy 2:20-26 (NIV)
[20] In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
[21] If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
[22] Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
[23] Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
[24] And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
[25] Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
[26] and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Our standing with God must also be understood in light of our mistakes and shortcomings. This becomes clear when we understand the word heart as Jesus used it in our text today. That leads us into the second aspect of our standing with God. Our standing with God also involves a process of spiritual growth.
Second, we step through a door. A crisis experience called entire sanctification.
The process of spiritual growth is an important part of our standing with God. Looking at some of the words Paul uses in his letter to Timothy helps us to understand this process of spiritual growth.
In verses 20 and 21, Paul talks about instruments used in different ways. Some are used for noble purposes; some are used for ignoble purposes. A man or woman cleanses self by setting self aside for the noble purpose of living out God's will in their daily lifestyle.
This is the second work of grace that settles the intentions of our heart. God cleanses the intentions of the heart and from that day on, we are bent on doing only that which pleases God and fulfills His will in our daily lives.
Third, we live out a process. A process we call progressive sanctification.
In verse 15, Paul says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved..." This is not a command to be perfect. This is a command that speaks to the work of doing all we can to present ourselves to God without shame.
It is the process of becoming perfect. Being actively involved in the daily and lifelong process of spiritual growth, shows that the intentions of the heart are pure.
Now in my 39 years of experience as a Christian, this presentation of myself before God today, is much better than it was when I was a new Christian. Over the years, God has convicted me of sins, mistakes, and shortcomings in my life. I have repented of those things and asked God to help me to overcome them. In a process of spiritual growth that spans decades, God has brought me to a more righteous state in my standing with Him.
The word "avoid", in verse 16 is another indication of spiritual growth. In verse 21, a man is to "cleanse himself". In verse 22, we are to "flee from evil desires..." In verse 23, we are told not to have anything to do with arguments. In verse 24, we are told not to quarrel but instead we are to be kind and gentle. There must be some effort on our part to be proactive in improving our spiritual life.
Our spiritual life is evident in our relationships. First, in our relationship with God and then in our relationships with mankind. As we studied the Sermon on the Mount last year, Jesus' teaching on relationships became very clear.
Verse 18 speaks of the possibility of walking in the opposite direction, walking away from God. In my experience, this is a result of the lack of spiritual growth in the life of an individual. We are always moving in our standing with God.
We are either moving toward God or away from Him. That moving away from Him is not always seen in purposeful actions of rebellion. It can also be seen in other ways. Apathy can move us away from Him and destroy our relationship with Him as well as purposeful acts of sin and rebellion.
HEART:
Matthew 5:8 (NASB)
[8] "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Understanding the word heart in this beatitude is also an important part of understand how God can see us as pure when we do not perform perfectly. You see God looks at the intentions of the heart.
The Complete Word Study of the New Testament says: "G2588 Heart: The seat and center of human life. In the NT, used only figuratively." (CWS-NT)
Vine's is an excellent dictionary to use in studying the Greek and Hebrew words of the Scriptures. Vine's says: "HEART, HEARTILY G2588 kardia (kardi/a, G2588), "the heart" (Eng., "cardiac," etc.), the chief organ of physical life ("for the life of the flesh is in the blood," Lev 17:11), occupies the most important place in the human system. By an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements. In other words, the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life. "The Bible describes human depravity as in the 'heart,' because sin is a principle which has its seat in the center of man's inward life, and then 'defiles' the whole circuit of his action, Mt 15:19,20. On the other hand, Scripture regards the heart as the sphere of Divine influence, Ro 2:15; Ac 15:9.... The heart, as lying deep within, contains 'the hidden man,' 1Pe 3:4, the real man. It represents the true character but conceals it" (J. Laidlaw, in Hastings' Bible Dic.).
"As to its usage in the NT it denotes (a) the seat of physical life, Ac 14:17; Jas 5:5; (b) the seat of moral nature and spiritual life, the seat of grief, Jn 14:1; Ro 9:2; 2Co 2:4; joy, Jn 16:22; Ep 5:19; the desires, Mt 5:28; 2Pe 2:14; the affections, Lk 24:32; Ac 21:13; the perceptions, Jn 12:40; Ep 4:18; the thoughts, Mt 9:4; Heb 4:12; the understanding, Mt 13:15; Ro 1:21; the reasoning powers, Mk 2:6; Lk 24:38; the imagination, Lk 1:51; conscience, Ac 2:37; 1Jn 3:20; the intentions, Heb 4:12, cf. 1Pe 4:1; purpose, Ac 11:23; 2Co 9:7; the will, Ro 6:17; Col 3:15; faith, Mk 11:23; Ro 10:10; Heb 3:12.
"The heart, in its moral significance in the OT, includes the emotions, the reason and the will. G5590" (VINES)
Wow! Look at the words used here to translate this Greek word for HEART. There is strong evidence in these passages that when God looks at us, and where we stand in His eyes, He is looking at the intentions of the heart. But, I must caution you not to take any of these verses out of the context of the passages where they appear.
In our discussion of the word PURE we saw clearly that this is not just a head thing, something that takes place just in our mind. The intentions of our hearts are lived out in our daily lives as purposeful actions. I cannot merely say my intentions are good and pure; I must struggle with Satan, to live out those good and pure intentions in my daily life.
We only have time to look at one of these passages. The passage in Matthew 12 shows us two important truths about the heart. We often are carried away with the minute details of a passage and fail to see the overall truth presented by that passage.
The first truth that is presented by Christ: A heart cannot be victorious and be divided at the same time. There can only be one condition of the heart.
Matthew 12:22-30 (NIV)
[22] Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
[23] All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
[24] But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
[25] Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
[26] "If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
[27] "And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
[28] "But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
[29] "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
[30] "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."
If our heart is divided then we are defeated. I love the booklet published by Campus Crusades for Christ called, "The Spirit Filled Life". In it, they have an illustration that helps to show what Christ is talking about here.
This illustration (see web-link above) shows a chair as the throne of the heart. The one who sits on the throne is in control. There can only be one sitting on the throne of the heart. We must place Christ on the throne of our heart to be Lord of our life. Self and Christ cannot occupy the throne at the same time.
Use the link above and read the booklet. It is very helpful in understanding our relationship with God.
The second truth presented by Christ in this passage: A heart cannot remain anonymous. What is inside of the heart comes out in the actions of our lifestyles.
Matthew 12:33-37 (NIV)
[33] "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
[34] You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
[35] The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
[36] But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
[37] For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
What is inside the heart comes out to reveal the true intentions of the heart. In the life of a Christian who has placed Christ on the throne of their heart, there is an ever-increasing righteousness in their life. As one makes mistakes, or falls short of God's perfect standard, the Holy Spirit brings conviction.
Notice I said conviction not condemnation. We often get the two confused. Conviction is a reminder to me that I need improvement. When Christ is on the throne of that Christian's heart, they confess, and ask for help to overcome that mistake, shortcoming, or sin in their life.
Sometimes instantaneous deliverance comes. Sometimes deliverance comes over a period of time. But always, there is the comfort of knowing we have a relationship with God that secures our place in the Kingdom of God. This is what the Christian Journey is all about.
"Blessed are the pure in heart", is a blessing on those who have given up the throne of their lives to Christ. God sees the purity of their lives in the intentions of their heart.
Can I ask you a question? Who is on the throne of your heart?
Please Stand. Let us pray.
Closing content here.
NASB - New American Standard Bible (NASB). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2002.
VINES - Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vine's). W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr. Cedar Rapids: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Laridian, 1996.
I want to thank my research assistants, Debi Peck and Robyn Harper (HARPER), who do hours of research to provide some of my study resources. I also want to thank Vonda Watson-Bostick and Robyn Harper, who help me with editing.