Pure In Heart: Defined Series

Intro

We are studying the Beatitudes with an interest in how to position ourselves for revival. What attitudes of heart are conducive to experiencing more of God’s grace and participating in what he is doing. The Beatitudes provide insight for participating in the kingdom of God because this is the way God’s kingdom operates. Whether it is in revival or not, this is the way the followers of Christ are to function. We have already examined the first five beatitudes. Today we will consider the sixth. It is recorded in Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”i

Like the other beatitudes, the text naturally lends itself to three areas of inquiry.

1. The Quality being addressed: “Pure in heart.”

2. The Reward being promised: “For they shall see God.”

3. The Application of the text to our own lives: How we can we cultivate purity of heart in our own lives?

We will only have time today for the first inquiry.

Of all the beatitudes, I find this one the most intimidating. Who can read “Blessed are the pure in heart”; then say, “That’s me. I am pure in heart”? To be upright and honorable before men is one thing. We all should live godly lives. An elder must be above reproach.ii But purity of heart addresses our deepest thoughts and motives.iii I know my own internal struggles and temptations that people can’t see.iv Just reading our text alerts me to refinements needed in my internal soul. What would the verdict be if my soul were fully exposed by the white-hot gaze of God’s holiness today? What flaws would appear if all the thoughts and intents of my heart were unveiled? Would there be a flicker of envy toward those more successful than me? Would there me some hidden desire for unwarranted recognition? No doubt, the verdict would be: “This heart needs more refinement. This man is far from perfect in all his inner desires and motives.” Purity of heart is not only concerned with the “what” issues of life. It reaches down to questions of “why.” What is really motivating the action?

God brings us through experiences that expose the motives of the heart. There is the person serving diligently in the church. He works hard. But nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to appreciate the sacrifices he is making. Some even criticize him. So, he stops serving. The experience has revealed the true motives of the heart. The person who lives for the glory of God does not pull back under such circumstances. The person who is doing the work as unto the Lord is satisfied with God’s approval alone. Yes, it is nice to be appreciated by others. But we do not serve for the praises of men. We labor for the approval of one.v The experience surfaces the heart problem so that the person can address the flawed motive and enjoy a greater level of inner purity. God brings us through trials that refine the heart, removing the alloy of compromised motives.vi

Job was above reproach before men. Job 1:1 says he was, “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” But his trial exposed self-righteousness in his heart that even he didn’t know was there.vii God leads us through experiences that expose to us what he already sees. Thankfully, God does not show us our need all at once. Like pealing an onion, he exposes the need for more purity one layer at a time so that we advance from one level of purity to the next.viii

Are you pure in heart? Am I pure in heart? We tread lightly into the subject hoping we qualify; longing to be pure in heart; but suspecting we might not be. This is why we urgently need to know what Jesus had in mind when he used the phrase pure in heart. We will therefore pursue that question extensively. Without a sound understanding of that, we cannot benefit from the text. We will either set the standard so low that we complacently rest in unwarranted self-satisfaction, or we set it so high that we forsake the pursuit as futile. So, look with me at the quality being addressed: “Pure in heart.”

I. The CONTEXT in which Jesus introduced the Beatitudes is instructive.

When John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries, the religious system of Judaism had become superficial and ritualistic. From Malachi to Matthew there had been 400 years of divine silence. Israel had the law of Moses. They had the revelation given to the prophets prior to that time. But God had not spoken to them for 400 years. They had lost the glory of his presence. As a result, their religion had become dry, routine, and mechanical.