Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Meaning of Pure in Heart

If we go to Strong’s Concordance for the meaning of 'pure,' we discover definitions such as purified, like a vine pruned to bear fruit, free from corrupt desires, free from sin and guilt, blameless, and innocent. So, to be pure in heart, we must first be freed from sin and guilt, made blameless and innocent, which can only be achieved through the gift of salvation in Christ.

Is this the state of most adults' hearts today? Probably not. Even those purified in Christ face constant bombardment from the world with enough non-innocent and ungodly influences daily to corrupt even the purest of hearts.

What does it Mean to be Pure of Heart?

The fact that Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart," makes it apparent that it’s possible for people to be pure in heart—else He wouldn’t have said. It also indicates that purity of heart is a condition He expects us to cultivate and live by. But do we truly understand how to be pure in heart?

Pure Thoughts

Purity of heart is closely associated with purity of thought, a topic the Bible addresses in several places. In Romans chapter 12, for example, the Apostle Paul discusses the transformation of our thinking.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Purity in heart starts with the renewal of the mind. The term ‘renewing’ is derived from a Greek word meaning the renovation or the complete changing of something. Our minds must be renovated.

How is the renewing, the renovation, of the mind accomplished? Paul gives the answer in verse 2, saying, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The word 'prove' used here means to test, examine, and scrutinize something—in this case, it refers to carefully examining and fully understanding what the will of God is.

What is the Will of God?

How do we attain knowledge of God's will? It is acquired through the only method the Lord has provided: it’s by understanding the word of God, the Bible, which reveals His will, His desires, and His divine purposes, through which we may further gain a knowledge of His will for our own life.

The Bible contains the words of Jesus, as it states in John chapter one that Jesus is the Living Word of God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This verse refers to Jesus, the Word made flesh who lived among us in bodily form; Emmanuel, the One who is 'God with us.'

The word of God contained in the Bible is about Jesus. When Jesus encountered the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, He revealed Himself to them through the Scriptures.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Hunger for the Word of God

Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Most of the world doesn’t recognize that the word of God contains something that every human spirit longs for and craves. The word of God is nourishment for the human spirit. It provides life-giving spiritual sustenance.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus felt their hearts ignite with passion as Jesus opened the scriptures to them. They were exhilarated by His words. Similarly, our hearts will also ignite within us as we dedicate time to studying the word of God, meditate on it, and allow the Holy Spirit to unveil its deeper meaning to us. This process will change the way we think, renewing and renovating our minds, and we will be transformed, one revelation at a time.

Be Careful for Nothing

The Bible also addresses the need for controlling anxious thought, the troubling thoughts of worry and fear that inevitably arise in our daily lives. These kinds of thoughts can disturb and unsettle our mind, as the Bible clearly states that fear brings torment.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

But isn’t fear, anxiety, and the distress of the mind cause by worry and fear something beyond our control? Apparently not. According to Jesus, it is entirely within our control.

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought [no anxious thought], saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Jesus instructs us not to receive or entertain anxious thoughts. But is it really possible to prevent worried and troubling thoughts from entering our minds? Apparently it must be, or Jesus wouldn't have told us such a thing. And in the next verse, He explains how we can achieve this.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

How do we seek the kingdom of God and align our thoughts with His right thinking? By seeking to understand the word of God. Reading it, reflecting upon it, and delving deeply into His word is how we seek the kingdom of God. And in doing so, we also seek His righteousness, which is embracing His rightness and His correctness of thinking, which, by the way, is what the word ‘righteousness’ means.

We're still discussing what it means to be pure in heart. Rejecting anxious thoughts is an essential part of maintaining that purity. But how do we actually do that? How can we deal with and manage the troubling and anxious thoughts that life brings our way?

Casting all your Cares Upon Him

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Humble yourselves. Why is it that casting our cares upon the Lord is an act of humility? Because we're often carrying burdens we were never meant to bear. We mistakenly believe that by our intense worrying, we can control our circumstances, but that’s an illusion. We cannot. It takes humility to acknowledge that these things are beyond our control, and to allow ourselves to believe they are fully within His control, if we, through faith and trust, allow Him to take charge.

Peter instructs us to cast all our cares and worries upon the Lord, because He cares for us. But how do we actually do that? It's straightforward. We do it through prayer. By taking some time alone with the Lord, and telling Him that we're casting our worries to Him, following the guidance given us in His word.

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Stand Against the Wiles of the Devil

And then we leave it there with Him. We refuse to have another anxious thought about it. When another worried thought comes, we stand against it, we refuse to take it, we don’t receive it into our thinking? Why? Because we have given it to the Lord, and He has it. We are not going to take it back and carry it any more.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

That you may be able to stand against the wiles, or the strategies, of the devil. Yes, the Bible affirms the existence of the devil. He is real. His strategy is to gain control over us through fear, by planting anxious, troubling and fearful thoughts, in our minds. We have a choice: we can either struggle with these thoughts or hand them over to God, rejecting the devil's efforts to fill our hearts with fear. This is what is commonly known as spiritual warfare.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace of God, which goes beyond our natural understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ. For those who trust in Him, God provides a supernatural peace that calms both mind and heart.

Think on These Things

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Think about good things—things that are true, honest, just, and pure. Think about what is lovely, admirable, virtuous, and commendable. Lift your mind out of the gutter of negativity and fill it with pure, uplifting thoughts.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Those who are pure in heart, those who renew their minds with the word of God, who cast their worries and fears upon the Lord, and who think upon good and virtuous things—will look upon and behold the Lord. They will experience a connection with heaven, and the Lord will allow Himself to be revealed to them in their lives.