Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
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So let us first be clear on the seriousness of this matter, because it is obvious from this verse that the flip side of the coin is that unless we are pure in heart we will not see God! The Greek word used for 'pure' here in today's verse is, καθαρ?ς—katharos. That is where we derive the English word ‘cathartic’ which is a purgative used to clean out the body.

The purpose of this study today is for His Word, a cathartic, to be used by the Lord to cleanse our hearts so that we can see Him. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. {1Tim.1:5} Love that does not come from a pure heart is like a drink of water from a polluted puddle to a thirsty man—and it can kill you!

In Jeremiah chapters 13 and 14, the Lord speaks to that prophet about the ‘impurity’ of His people; how they have rejected His word and turned to other gods in their pride. God is telling him of all of the calamities that He will bring upon them as a result. And all of that is going on in spite of the fact that the other prophets of the time, false prophets, are telling the people that everything is alright, wonderful, that they will have lasting peace—keeping the impurity in place. Those religious leaders were creating a culture where impurity is tolerated rather than purged.

Jesus Christ, perfect in holiness and purity, spoke through John on the island of Patmos about the need for a church to be cleansed, to be purged: "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth." {Rev.3:14-16}

Luke warm Christians are an impurity in the Body of Christ, a defilement of the Body of Christ, and a danger to the Body of Christ. Jesus will—by design—violently expel them, vomit them, from His Body regardless of how ugly or uncomfortable that is.

The Lord's intention here in today’s verse from the Sermon on the Mount is that we who are born again, new on the inside, will now change the old ‘outside’. We came forth from death, like Lazarus, alive on the inside but still covered with the trappings of death on the outside. {Jn.11:45} From there on it became a battle of the outside against the inside—the flesh and the spirit, the very purpose of the entire Sermon on the Mount. Changing the way we think, "you have heard it said...but I say to you!" over and over.

It is indeed training in righteousness that will make God and His Son Jesus more clear and visible to you and I—as well as through you and I! And when we see Jesus as He is we will BE as He is—Pure in heart!

“Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:21-22)

TEST EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF GOD