The concept of being "pure in heart" is a significant theme in the Christian Scriptures, reflecting the inner moral and spiritual condition that is pleasing to God. This purity is not merely an external adherence to religious rituals or moral codes but an inward transformation that aligns one's desires, thoughts, and intentions with the holiness of God.

Biblical Foundation

The phrase "pure in heart" is prominently featured in the Beatitudes, where Jesus declares, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). This statement underscores the promise of divine fellowship and the ultimate vision of God granted to those whose hearts are untainted by sin and hypocrisy.

Old Testament Insights

The call to purity of heart is rooted in the Old Testament, where the heart is often seen as the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. In Psalm 24:3-4, the psalmist asks, "Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully" . Here, purity of heart is linked with integrity and devotion to God, free from idolatry and falsehood.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the purity of heart is further emphasized as a hallmark of true discipleship. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their outward religiosity while neglecting the inner purity that God desires: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25). This critique highlights the necessity of internal purity over mere external compliance.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the purity of heart in his epistles. In 1 Timothy 1:5, he writes, "The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith" . Paul emphasizes that genuine love and faith stem from a heart purified by the Holy Spirit, free from ulterior motives and deceit.

Spiritual Implications

The purity of heart is not an innate human quality but a divine work accomplished through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Believers are called to pursue this purity actively, as seen in James 4:8: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" . This exhortation reflects the cooperative process of sanctification, where believers are urged to seek God's presence and allow Him to cleanse their hearts.

Practical Application

For the saints, being pure in heart involves a continual process of self-examination, repentance, and reliance on God's grace. It requires a commitment to truth, a rejection of hypocrisy, and a sincere devotion to God above all else. The pure in heart are characterized by their transparency, humility, and unwavering focus on God's glory.

In summary, the character of saints as pure in heart is a profound biblical ideal that calls for an inner transformation aligning one's entire being with the holiness and love of God. This purity is both a gift from God and a pursuit for the believer, promising the ultimate reward of seeing God.Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Nave's Topical Index

1 John 3:3
And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
Nave's Topical Index

Saints and Faithful
... unless we are being made day by day pure in heart ... name that He writes is the likeness
of His own character. ... type of ascetic piety in order to be called saints. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/saints and faithful.htm

All Saints' Day
... beautiful, and the utterly good in the character of God ... had his share in the everlasting
All Saints' Day which is ... Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon i all saints day.htm

The Sixth Beatitude
... the consciousness of His presence, the realisation of His character, the blessed ...
'The pure in heart ... us that it is only in Him that the glorified saints see the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the sixth beatitude.htm

Steps to Perfection.
... by acquaintance with divine things, in character, life, and ... service, though it be
holy service, and among saints. Then become pure in heart, and near to the ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter x steps to perfection.htm

The Yoke of Christ.
... instead of arrogant, lowly instead of proud, pure-hearted instead ... If there be but
one character of heart that can ... nature, to admire the life of saints, and to ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon viii the yoke of.htm

Divine and Worldly Conformity
... If we are meek and modest in character, our dress ... of course, does not have its origin
in a pure heart. ... Such things are very unbecoming to saints, and of course ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk nineteen divine and worldly.htm

In Christ and in Ephesus
... that obnoxious mud of iniquity were growing the pure white lilies of Christian
character. ... out of such unspeakable filth and made them faithful saints! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk thirty-four in christ and.htm

The Great Commandment
... Jesus Christ, or the Virgin Mary, or the saints, or any ... becoming more or less like
that person in character and in ... as it is said, 'Blessed are the pure in heart ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xiv the great commandment.htm

Fenelon -- the Saints Converse with God
... THE SAINTS CONVERSE WITH GOD. ... our temperament, or in our habits, or in the peculiar
character of our ... this flame within us, at the fountain of pure and eternal ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/fenelon the saints converse.htm

The Preachings on the Lake.
... element of Greek culture had penetrated this first assembly of the saints. ... "Blessed
are the pure in heart ... of exactly the same tone and the same character as the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter x the preachings on.htm

What is virtue ethics? | GotQuestions.org

Does God change His mind? | GotQuestions.org

Is God perfect? | GotQuestions.org

Character: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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