# 42 2016 Dev. Mt.5:8. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.”
The following intro. is the context for verses 3-12. Verse 8 is part of “The Beatitudes”. The meaning of this word is: “a state of absolute bliss” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). That ecstatic state can only come by God’s grace and human kindness. Therefore, Jesus begins his sermon with the attitudes and the ethics of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The pure in heart, who are they? This term “Pure heart” is found in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Test. those with a pure heart are qualified by: “clean hands”, by trust in the true God, by repentance, and innocence, In the New Test. a pure heart is qualified by: love, repentance, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. I think the verse that is definitive is Ps. 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”.
The answer to the the question, who are the pure in heart is: All who truly follow Jesus. That is a surprising answer given the qualifications listed here. Who among us will stand up when asked to confirm all these qualifications in our lives? I say none of us and I say all of us! Everyone must answer for themselves. I answer all of us because I am recreated in Jesus by God’s grace and my faith. Along with that comes a new heart. What Jesus does for us in our time is what was mirrored in the Old Test. church: Eze. 11:19-20 “…I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh… They will be my people, and I will be their God”.
A pure heart is given us in Christ by His righteousness. Therefore, followers of Jesus are blessed and “they will see God”. That is a promise that begins the moment one believes in Jesus, a gift difficult to comprehend but guaranteed. Praise God!
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