“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8
Jesus has wonderfully spoken of blessing after blessing thus far in the Beatitudes. His words have been so encouraging and comforting, haven’t they? As we come to the sixth beatitude, many may be frightened by it. It’s indeed marvelous to hear and consider the glorious promise that the pure in heart will see God. Yet, who among us is pure in heart?
Remember what was true for Adam before the Fall. He had close, personal, face-to-face communion with God in the garden. God walked through the garden in the cool of the day, Genesis 3:8 teaches us. However, we know the Fall changed everything. That close communion and fellowship was lost because of Adam’s sin. Further, in Exodus 33:20, the Lord tells us that no man can see His face and live. So, how can Jesus say the pure in heart will see God? How can we stained sinners not only lift up clean hands, but a pure heart to Him? (Psalm 24:4-5, 1 Timothy 1:5)
The pure in heart are made pure in Him. The Greek word for “pure”, in Matthew 5:8, means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” Beloved, Christ points us to Himself and His work, here. Our confidence, our hope is in Jesus, who has washed, justified, and sanctified His people (1 Corinthians 6:11). He has washed our hearts from wickedness (Jeremiah 4:14). Jesus has set us apart. He definitively declared us to be holy. Christ has made us pure in Him. This purity is guaranteed by His effectual work. By His Spirit and grace, we are becoming more and more mature in Christ as He refines us, purifies us by getting sin and junk out of our lives. We are being restored more and more in the image of Christ. Jesus promises He will complete that good work He has begun in us. As those who are in Him, we have confidence that we will one day see God as He is (1 John 3:1-3).
Jesus’ promise in this beatitude is awesome beyond words to us, isn’t it? We long to be free from the presence of sin. We long to see Christ and He promises we will. When we do, we take joy that our souls will be fully satisfied forever. May this beatitude grow your love, thankfulness, and longing for your Savior. God be praised!