Lesson 7:
The Pure in Heart
Matthew 5:8 Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
1 Samuel 16:7 But
Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height
of his stature; because I have rejected him: for I see not as man
sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at
the heart.”
PURE
1. Separate from
all heterogeneous or extraneous matter; clear; free from mixture; as
pure water; pure clay; pure sand; pure air; pure silver [or] gold.
Pure wine is very scare.
2. Free from moral
defilement; without spot; not sullied or tarnished; incorrupt;
undebased by moral turpitude; holy. Thou art of purer eyes than to
behold evil. Hab.1. Prov.20.
3. Genuine; real;
true; incorrupt; unadulterated; as pure religion. James 1.
"pure."
Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.
2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/pure
(8 June 2014).
The main
points for this lesson:
Remember,
beatitude means happy or blessed. Jesus is telling us the way to true
happiness and blessedness. The beatitudes teach us who will be happy
and why that person will be happy.
To be pure in
heart has at least two sides. On one side, the pure in heart are
those who have a heart FREE from evil motives and desires, a heart
that does not seek its own things (Philippians 2:4). On the other
side, the pure in heart delight in God and his ways. They love him
with ALL their heart. (Without this second part, we will be like the
man in Matthew 12:43-45.) Motivated by love, they seek first God's
kingdom and his righteousness. Both sides are important. Psalm 1:1-2
gives a simple picture of someone who is pure in heart.
How can we have a
pure heart? For our part, we can purify our hearts by casting out the
bad things that don't belong there. Choose to look on, listen to,
talk about, and think about what is good and pleasing to the Lord
(Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:2). Find others who have pure hearts,
and with them seek things that are pleasing to God (2 Timothy 2:22).
Finally, though certainly not the least thing, ask God for help and
strength, and for a pure heart as David did (Psalm 51:10). God alone
is the great physician. He is able to heal our bodies. He also has
the medicine and skill to cleanse our hearts.
Why will the pure
in heart be happy and blessed? Jesus said the pure in heart shall see
God. This beatitude holds a promise for both this life and the next.
The pure in heart will both in this life and the next know God's
favor and nearness.
In this life, the pure in heart may (or may not) see God in dreams
and visions. The heavens may open for them as they did for Stephen.
More importantly, they will find God drawing near to them as they
draw near to God (James 4:8). The pure in heart will see more clearly
the simple and humble path that leads to the God whom they love with
all their heart. The pure in heart will see Christ as they serve
others (Matthew 25:40).
All men will see God on the judgment day. However, it is only the
pure in heart that will see God looking upon them with blessing and
favor. How many will find God's wrath on that day because they would
not cleanse their heart of all they should and fill it with devotion
to God alone. At the judgment day, the pure in heart will have no
other master, no earthly sin or possession or desire, claiming them,
but will hear the one they loved and served with all their heart say
to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” How happy and
blessed the pure in heart will be then.
Those who do not
have a pure heart shall in the end find unhappiness and a curse.
Perhaps Judas Iscariot thought he could serve God and money at the
same time. He allowed greed to remain in his heart while following
Jesus. His heart was neither cleansed from all sin and evil desire,
nor was it devoted wholly to God. In the end, Judas betrayed Jesus,
and then killed himself. While the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17ff)
seemed to hunger and thirst for righteousness, he allowed a love for
money and possessions to remain in his heart. When Jesus brought him
to a place of decision, this man did not choose to pursue a pure
heart, nor did he choose the narrow path that leads to life. That
love for the world that he kept in his heart led him to choose to
forsake Jesus, whose yoke is easy, and instead to make money and
possessions his hard and destructive master. Greed and love of money
are just two examples of things that keep us from having a pure
heart. Jesus spoke of many things we may allow into our hearts that
will defile us (Mark 7:21-22). God appeared to Solomon twice, yet
Solomon did not keep his heart pure. Thus, instead of favor, he found
God's anger (1 Kings 11:9). Let us be careful to purify our hearts,
to do this work fully and completely and to the end, and to fill our
hearts only with God and the things above.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson with prayer for the
teacher and the students and this class time.
Read Matthew 5:8
with the children.
Give the children
a simple explanation of what it means to be pure in heart: The pure
in heart put bad things out of their heart, and love and obey God
with all their heart (they fill their heart with love and obedience
to God).
While many stories
could be used to illustrate this beatitude, I recommend at this time
using the first three stories below, about Elijah speaking with God
(1 Kings 19:1-21), Jesus being transfigured (Matthew 17:1-8), and
Stephen being stoned (Acts 6:8-15; 7:1,51-60). All three provide
examples of the pure in heart who saw God in some way or another.
As you read the
stories, you can ask the children who is pure in heart, and why. You
may need to remind them of the meaning of “pure in heart” when
you ask them. You can ask them how the men in the stories saw God.
Was it always in the same way? What kind of happiness and blessedness
did they find?
You could talk to
the children about their own hearts. What kind of things might be in
their hearts? Perhaps covetousness or self-seeking is in their
hearts. Are they content with what God has given them, or do they
often want what someone else has (covetousness)? Do they desire to
please God and their parents, or do they want their own way instead
(self-seeking)? You can point out to them (or ask them to think about
it themselves) the unhappy results of covetousness and self-seeking
(such as quarreling and arguing), and the happy results of being
content and loving others. Remind them that all this has to do with
what we allow to grow in our hearts.
Close the lesson with prayer related to
the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Stories:
1 Kings 19:1-21
– Elijah flees after Jezebel threatens to kill him. He is led to
Mount Horeb, where God speaks with him.
Elijah
was wholly devoted to God. When many others had turned away from God
to serve idols, Elijah held fast to the Lord his God at a great cost.
He had to flee when Jezebel threatened his life, discouraged. Yet God
visited Elijah on the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1). He was pure in
heart. He did not allow evil to dwell in his heart, but instead loved
and served God with all his heart.
Matthew 17:1-8
(or 1-13) [1] After six days, Jesus took with him Peter,
James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain
by themselves. [2] He was transfigured before them. His face shone
like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. [3]
Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. [4] Peter
answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.
If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah.” [5] While he was still speaking,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of
the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. Listen to him.” [6] When the disciples heard it, they fell
on their faces, and were very afraid. [7] Jesus came and touched them
and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” [8] Lifting up their
eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.
2 Peter 1:16-18
[16] For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we
made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but
we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received from
God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the
Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.” [18] We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were
with him on the holy mountain.
Peter,
James and John are shown with their failings in the Gospels. Yet,
these men left behind all
that they had, and followed Jesus. In them we see men who are
pursuing and possessing pure hearts. Based on this beatitude (blessed
are the pure in heart...), it seems reasonable to say that at least
one reason Peter, James and John were allowed to see Christ
transfigured and to hear the voice from heaven was that they were
pure in heart.
When
Peter writes about this event in his epistle, he is recalling this
event to strengthen the faith of others, never to boast of himself.
Humility (being poor in spirit) is a necessary part of being pure in
heart. It both leads to a pure heart, and comes from a pure heart.
In
the story in Matthew 17, we find that Peter did not necessarily
understand all that was going on. To be pure in heart you do not have
to know or understand everything, but you must put away sin and
self-seeking from you heart, and love God instead.
Acts 6:5-15;
7:1-60 (*for the children, just read Acts 6:8-15; 7:1,51-60*)
- The death of Stephen.
Stephen
was falsly accused and facing death. Rather than defend himself, he
cared only for the glory of God and the salvation of men. Even as he
was being put to death, out of a pure heart he looked to his Lord,
and asked that mercy be shown to his murderers. Before his death, he
was able to see God (Acts 7:55-56).
More Stories
and Examples:
Genesis 5:21-24
[21] Enoch lived sixty-five years, then became the father of
Methuselah. [22] After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God
for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and
daughters. [23] All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five
years. [24] Enoch walked with God, and he was not found, for God took
him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith, Enoch was
taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found,
because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him
that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
Surely
Enoch was one who was pure in heart. He walked with God. God was so
pleased with him that he took Enoch to dwell with him even before he
should see death.
Genesis 20:1-18
Abimelech
– Acting from a pure heart: When Abraham sojourned in Gerar, he
said that Sarah was his sister. Abimelech sent for and took Sarah. He
did this with a pure heart (Genesis 20:5-6 see LXX), believing that
Sarah was unmarried and therefore available to become his wife. God
came to Abimelech in a dream at night with a strong warning about
Sarah being Abraham's wife. While this may not be the story we would
first recall when considering this beatitude, it seems that
Abimelech's actions being done from a pure heart and God's appearing
to him in a dream to warn him are very much connected. In Abimelech
we see the importance of having and acting from a pure heart. For
what would have been his end had he acted from an evil desire?
Exodus 19:20; 24:12,18; 34:2
- Moses called up to the Mountain of God.
Exodus 33:11
Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to
his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua,
the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.
Numbers 12:6-8
Deuteronomy 34:10-12
[10] Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like
Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face, [11] in all the signs
and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to
Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, [12] and in
all the mighty hand, and in all the awesome deeds, which Moses did in
the sight of all Israel.
Moses
saw God. He left all behind to follow and serve God and his people.
Moses did not exalt himself or his own name. Within his heart he did
not keep any love for riches or the passing pleasures of the world.
He loved the Lord his God with all his heart. In Moses we see an
illustration of Jesus' words, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God.”
Further,
as we consider the life of Moses in the wilderness, we see that the
happiness gained in not the passing happiness of the world. It was
not a happiness of everything going right and having no trouble.
Moses found the true and lasting happiness that comes from God, the
true blessedness of walking with God even in the midst of great
trials and troubles.
Numbers 14:20-24
[20] Yahweh said, “I have pardoned according to your word;
[21] but in very deed—as I live, and as all the earth shall be
filled with Yahweh’s glory— [22] because all those men who have
seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the
wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not
listened to my voice; [23] surely they shall not see the land which I
swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who despised me
see it. [24] But my servant Caleb, because he had another
spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him I will
bring into the land into which he went. His offspring shall
possess it.
1 Samuel 1:20 –
4:1 – This is the story of the early life of Samuel, from his
birth to his beginnings as a prophet.
This
is the story of Samuel as a child in the midst of corruption. God
speaks to a little boy who is pure in heart.
1 Kings 11:1-13
[9] Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart
was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared
to him twice,
God
appeared to Solomon twice, in Gibeon (1 Kings 3:5) and after the
dedication of the temple (1 Kings 9:2). Yet this is a stern warning
to us. Though Solomon may have been pure in heart earlier in his
life, he did not remain faithful to God, he did not keep his heart
pure to the end, and so saw the anger of God instead. Purity of heart
is not something for just a moment in time. It must be a lifelong
pursuit, to the very end. Then, on the day of judgment, we will see
God and hear “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Luke 1:26-38
– The angel Gabriel is sent to Mary.
Mary
was chosen to be mother of Jesus. She is pure in that she is a
virgin. She is pure in body. God saw that she was pure in heart as
well, and chose her to be the mother of Christ. In her response to
the angel Gabriel, we see that she desired only to serve God.
Acts 10:1-48
– The story of Cornelius.
In
Cornelius it seems that God found a man pure in heart, living in the
world, but not of it, serving almighty God. God chose him from among
the gentiles to clearly receive the Holy Spirit and so open the door
of faith to the gentile world. Did Cornelius see God? An angel came,
then the apostle Peter, and finally the Holy Spirit.
Many
people saw Jesus' miracles and heard his teaching. The pure in heart
saw him as the Christ, the son of the living God. Those who were not
pure in heart heard and saw the same things, but could not come to
see who Jesus really was. One example of those who could not see
Jesus as the Christ of God were those Pharisees who were lovers of
money (Luke 16:14). The greed and pride in their hearts blinded them
so they could not see the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.
In
Jesus' telling of the coming day of judgment in Matthew 25, the sheep
were those who cared for those in need without any selfish motive.
They sought only to love and serve their God by loving their neighbor
as themselves. They discovered that on earth they had cared for Jesus
himself, and that in the judgment, God smiled upon them. What was in
the hearts of the goats during their earthly life?
Other
Verses:
PURE IN HEART
Psalm 1:1-2 [1] Blessed is the
man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the
path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight
is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 24:3-6 [3] Who may ascend
to Yahweh’s hill? Who may stand in his holy place? [4] He who has
clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul
to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. [5] He shall receive a
blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation.
[6] This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your
face—even Jacob. Selah.
Psalm 51:10-12 [10] Create in
me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. [11]
Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy
Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold
me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 73:1 Surely God is good to
Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Proverbs 11:20 Those who are
perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those
whose ways are blameless are his delight.
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I
have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?”
Proverbs 20:11 Even a child
makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure,
and whether it is right.
Proverbs 22:11 He who loves
purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
Proverbs 30:11-14 [11] There is
a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their
mother. [12] There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,
yet are not washed from their filthiness. [13] There is a
generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
[14] There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their
jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy
from among men.
Ezekiel 18:30-32 [30] Therefore
I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,
says the Lord Yahweh. Return, and turn yourselves from all your
transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. [31] Cast away
from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed;
and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will
you die, house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure in the death of
him who dies, says the Lord Yahweh: therefore turn yourselves, and
live.
Ezekiel 33:31 They come to you
as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they
hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show
much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
Matthew 15:10-11,16-20 [10] He
summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.
[11] That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but
that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” [16]
So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand? [17] Don’t you
understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly,
and then out of the body? [18] But the things which proceed out of
the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. [19] For
out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual
sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. [20] These are
the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands
doesn’t defile the man.”
Matthew 22:37-38 [37] Jesus said
to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38] This
is the first and great commandment.
Matthew 23:25-28 [25] “Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of
the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and
unrighteousness. [26] You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside
of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean
also. [27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For
you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but
inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. [28]
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly
you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mark 4:18-19 [18] Others are
those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard
the word, [19] and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of
riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and
it becomes unfruitful.
When the
cares of this age, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for
other things enter into our heart, we become unfruitful.
Mark 7:20-23 [20] He said, “That
which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. [21] For from
within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, [22] covetings, wickedness,
deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and
foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and
defile the man.”
Luke 11:39-40 [39] The Lord said
to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of
the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and
wickedness. [40] You foolish ones, didn’t he who made the
outside make the inside also?
Philippians 4:8 Finally,
brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever
things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is
any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
1 Timothy 1:5 but the goal of
this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good
conscience and sincere faith;
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from
youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with
those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Titus 1:15-16 [15] To the
pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and
unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their
conscience are defiled. [16] They profess that they know God, but by
their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit
for any good work.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow after peace
with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see
the Lord,
James 4:7-10 [7] Be subject
therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your
hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
[9] Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning,
and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and he will exalt you.
1 Peter 1:22 [Darby] Having
purified your souls by obedience to the truth to unfeigned brotherly
love, love one another out of a pure heart fervently;
1 John 3:1-3 [1] See how great a
love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children
of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t
know him. [2] Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet
revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we
will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. [3] Everyone
who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
GOD WILL HIDE HIS FACE FROM THE
UNRIGHTEOUS
Deuteronomy 31:16-18 [16] Yahweh
said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers. This
people will rise up, and play the prostitute after the strange gods
of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and
break my covenant which I have made with them. [17] Then my anger
shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them,
and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured,
and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say
in that day, ‘Haven’t these evils come on us because our God is
not among us?’ [18] I will surely hide my face in that day for all
the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other
gods.
Deuteronomy 32:19-20 [19] Yahweh
saw and abhorred, because of the provocation of his sons and his
daughters. [20] He said, “I will hide my face from them. I
will see what their end will be; for they are a very perverse
generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.
Isaiah 59:1-4 [1] Behold,
Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; neither his
ear heavy, that it can’t hear: [2] but your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his
face from you, so that he will not hear. [3] For your hands are
defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have
spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness. [4] No one sues in
righteousness, and no one pleads in truth: they trust in vanity, and
speak lies; they conceive mischief, and give birth to iniquity.
Isaiah 64:4-7 [4] For from of
old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye
seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him. [5] You
meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember
you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been
in sin for a long time; and shall we be saved? [6] For we have all
become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a
polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like
the wind, take us away. [7] There is no one who calls on your name,
who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your
face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.
Hosea 5:4-7 [4] Their deeds
won’t allow them to turn to their God; for the spirit of
prostitution is within them, and they don’t know Yahweh. [5] The
pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim
will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.
[6] They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek
Yahweh; but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from
them. [7] They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have
borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with
their fields.
Micah 3:4 Then they will cry to
Yahweh, but he will not answer them. Yes, he will hide his face
from them at that time, because they made their deeds evil.”
COMMENTARY
Verse 8. Blessed
are the pure in heart - That is, whose minds, motives, and principles
are pure; who seek not only to have the external actions correct, but
who desire to be holy in heart, and who are so. Man looks on the
outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.
They shall see God
- There is a sense in which all will see God, Revelation 1:7. That
is, they will behold him as a Judge, not as a Friend. In this place
it is spoken of as a special favor. So also in Revelation 22:4, “And
they shall see his face.” To see the face of one, or to be in the
presence of any one, were terms among the Jews expressive of great
favor. It was regarded as a high honor to be in the presence of kings
and princes, and to be permitted to see them, Proverbs 22:29, “He
shall stand before kings.” See also 2 Kings 25:19, “Those that
stood in the king‘s presence;” in the Hebrew, those that saw the
face of the king; that is, who were his favorites and friends. So
here, to see God, means to be his friends and favorites, and to dwell
with him in his kingdom.
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