Beatitudes - Blessed Are the Pure in Heart!

1. They are sincere.

1) Their heart isn't mingled or mixed with impure thoughts – Consider Titus 2:7-8 "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

2) True to self – Consider 2 Corinthians 1:12 "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward."

3) Have pure motives and are not deceitful with others — 2 Corinthians 2:17 "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

2. They are simple.

1) Not in the sense of stupid.

2) They are simple in that they reduce life to its elements/basics. 2 Corinthians 11:3 teaches that there is a simplicity in Christ.

3) Truth isn't really that complicated if it is accepted and believed.

4) It is error that makes things complex.

5) For the pure in heart, life isn't complex for them and it doesn't need to be. Consider Titus 1:15 "To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled."

6) Jesus' teaching was often quite simple.

3. They are serene.

1) Serenity comes from sincerity and simplicity of thought. Consider Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

2) The one who practices such has the promise of peace. Philippians 4:9 "The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

3) When we so live, one can live with himself – man in the mirror.

4) One may have a peaceful life. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."

1. Purity of life follows purity of heart.

1) Water source illustration.

2) Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

3) Consider Romans 6:17-18 "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

2. That means we must first purify our hearts!

1) We need the greatest source of purity.

2) The life of Christ – 1 John 3:3 says that Christ is pure.

3) The word of God – John 17:17.

4) We must trust and obey God's word to become pure!

a. By faith our hearts are made pure. Acts 15:9. "Purifying their hearts by faith."

b. By obedience our hearts are made pure. 1 Peter 1:22 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently."

5) We must let Christ live in us – Galatians 2:20.

3. What happens if the heart is not pure?

1) We will be condemned like the Pharisees. – Matthew 23:25-28 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

2) We will become corrupt.

a. Consider 2 Timothy 3:8 "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith."

b. Consider also Jude 1:10 "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves."

4. A clean life is a life of true happiness.

1. God Himself is pure.

1) 1 Peter 1:16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

2) Psalm 18:26a "With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure…."

2. The pure desire this promise.

1) Consider Psalm 51:10-11 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

2) Consider Psalm 24:3-6 "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah."

3. This promise supplies additional motivation.

1) Without being holy ourselves we won't see God – Hebrews 12:14 "Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord."

2) Consider 1 John 3:2-3 "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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

4. How happy will be the day when the pure of heart see God!