The Sermon On the Mount
Matthew, Chapter 5
Part V
Matthew 5:8) Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(Murdock) Blessed are the clean in heart: for they shall behold God!
(MSG) “You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
Regarding “pure,”
“Clean, pure, clear, in a natural sense unsoiled, unalloyed” [Word Study].
“In opposition to the Pharisees, who affected outward purity, while their hearts were full of corruption and defilement” [Clarke].
“The sanctified: they who love God with all their hearts” [Wesley].
Hebrews 12:14) Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Concerning “they shall see God,”
“See also 2Ki_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” [Barnes].
“i. For they shall see God: In this, the pure of heart receive the most wonderful reward. They shall enjoy greater intimacy with God than they could have imagined.
ii. Ultimately, this intimate relationship with God must become our greatest motivation for purity, greater than a fear of getting caught or a fear of consequences. [Guzik].
“The expression they shall see God may be understood in several ways. First, the pure in heart see God now through fellowship in the Word and the Spirit. Second, they sometimes have a supernatural appearance, or vision, of the Lord presented to them. Third, they shall see God in the Person of Jesus when He comes again. Fourth, they shall see God in eternity” [BBC].
Psalm 51:5-6) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Life Application:
David recognized two things regarding his sin of immorality: 1) His sin was a fruit of his being human; 2) This didn’t condone his sin. When we genuinely have a heart after God, we’re not playing church, then we have this wonderful promise: we shall see God. Certainly, in this life, we will “see Jesus clearer” as we seek Him, but this promise is for something greater.
1John 3:1-3) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Life Application 2:
When we get this truth, that we “will shall like him,” it will motivate us towards purity in the here and now.