Connect Psalm 11:7 with Matthew 5:8 on seeing God through purity. The Texts in View Psalm 11:7—“For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.” Matthew 5:8—“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Key Observations in Psalm 11:7 • The LORD’s own righteousness is the basis for the promise. • “Upright” (yāšār) speaks of moral straightness—lives aligned with God’s character. • The reward is immediate and relational: “will see His face,” a Hebrew idiom for personal fellowship (cf. Exodus 33:11). Key Observations in Matthew 5:8 • “Blessed” points to settled, covenantal happiness. • “Pure in heart” (katharos) refers to inner cleansing, undivided loyalty, and moral integrity (cf. Psalm 24:3-4). • “Will see God” looks ahead to a present foretaste and a future fullness (1 John 3:2). The Unbreakable Link Between Purity and Vision • Both verses make purity the condition for beholding God. • God’s holiness demands like-minded hearts (Hebrews 12:14). • The promise is both now (spiritual perception, 2 Corinthians 4:6) and not yet (face-to-face communion, Revelation 22:4). How Purity Is Described in Scripture 1. Single-minded devotion—James 4:8. 2. Moral blamelessness—Philippians 2:15. 3. Cleansed by atonement—Titus 2:14; 1 John 1:7. 4. Continual renewal—Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24. Practicing Purity in Daily Life • Guard the heart (Proverbs 4:23). • Confess sin promptly (1 John 1:9). • Fill the mind with Scripture (Psalm 119:9, 11). • Pursue holiness in relationships (1 Timothy 5:2). • Rely on the Spirit’s power, not self-effort (Galatians 5:16). Assurance and Hope for the Pure in Heart • Present communion: the Spirit makes Christ’s presence real (John 14:21). • Future glory: “We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) • Motivation: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3) Summing It Up Psalm 11:7 and Matthew 5:8 speak with one voice: a heart made clean by God enjoys the privilege of His face. Purity is not optional; it is the pathway to the richest blessing—seeing God both now in intimate fellowship and forever in unveiled glory. |
    |