“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”    

5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart,

The sixth beatitude refers to the core of purpose. The person spoken of here has single-minded commitment to God, not double-minded distraction.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Jas 4:8

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 1 Ti 1:5

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 2 Ti 1:3

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Ti 2:22

The “pure in heart” are those who do not hold out on God. The word “pure” carries the idea of simplicity from the root meaning clean, unmixed, without alloy. The Greek used “pure” for corn sifted of chaff, carrying the idea of unmixed. A pure heart is unmixed, not holding anything contrary to God’s will. It operates with singleness of motive. The only motive is the singleness of heart to do God’s will.

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mt 5:28

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Mt 5:37

for they shall see God.

Seeing God here means fellowship with God. This is seeing now in time. If we commit to unadulterated devotion to knowing God, we will fellowship with Him. One who sees God is without a divided self, a person of singleness of heart. This requires exacting self-assessment.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Jn 14:23

The direct interpretation probably refers to seeing God in the Messiah.

PRINCIPLE:

Those with a single-minded heart for God will experience fellowship with Him.

APPLICATION:

Purity in heart has to do with integrity of personhood. This person operates with unmixed motives. Purity of heart commits to one purpose; it does not allow any mixture of purpose.

A pure heart and a clean heart are not the same. God cleansed our hearts when we accepted the finished work on the cross to forgive us of all sin—past, present, and future. However, a pure heart does not allow itself to be diverted by things outside God’s will. It does not concern itself with outside options but with clarity of purpose in pleasing God.

Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. Ps 86:11

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sa 16:7

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Mt 6:24

And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. 1 Co 7:35