“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God,” (Matthew 5:8)
It would be completely unthinkable to appear before a monarch or a king without giving utmost consideration to cleanliness and a top-notch appearance. Why, then, do we consider entering the presence of a just and holy God without first tending to that which matters most to Him – the condition of our heart?
God knows our real character is revealed not by what we do or say, but by what’s in our heart (Matt. 5:27-28, 15:18, 23:25-26). And by nature, our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). God, on the other hand, is infinitely pure by nature. In fact, Habakkuk 1:13 says “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor.”
For this reason, our only hope for entering the presence of a just and holy God is to pray as the psalmist, “Create in me a pure heart, O God…” (Ps. 51:10). But what exactly does it mean to have clean hands and a pure heart? What does that look like?
Psalm 24:3-4, the Old Testament complement to the New Testament beatitude of Matthew 5:8, elaborates on what that means:
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false,
and does not swear deceitfully.
James supports both of these passages when he says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind,” (James 4:8). Jeremiah Burroughs said, “By the heart we are to understand not only the will or affections, but all the faculties of the soul — the mind, conscience, and thoughts, all is to be understood by heart. Blessed are those who have purity in their minds and consciences, in their thoughts, wills, and affections.”
Clean hands and a pure heart make no allowance for living a double life or participating in any duplicitous or deceitful behavior. Rather a pure heart aligns itself with the will of a pure, just, and holy God and the truth of His Word and seeks to honor, obey, and adore Him.
Do you wish to see God? Then, to echo James… “cleanse your hands and purify your hearts.”
- Purity does not tolerate pollution. In Adam I have been polluted, but in Christ I am purified. Any association with that which is filthy contaminates me. But You, Lord, are a pure fountain. I am so thankful that Your Spirit who lives in me overflows with pure water, so that as I live in obedience and holiness, these same rivers of eternal life may flow from me to others who need to drink from that fountain of living water.
- Lord, I know that one day I will see the fullness of Your divine essence in the face of Jesus Christ. If purity is the Robe of Heaven, the righteousness of Christ, then I want to diligently strive for purity. It is no wonder that David wanted a clean heart, and a right spirit.
- Do I seek to imitate Your holiness, Lord? Help me by Your Spirit to overcome the pressures of the world and the fiery darts of Satan, that I might keep myself unspotted from the world as You have commanded me.
Further References for Matthew 5:8
Ps. 24:4; Heb. 12:14; 1 Peter 1:22; Ps. 24:3, 73:1; 1 John 3:3
