Purity of Heart

In the sixth beatitude, or what have often been called “the beautiful attitudes” listed in the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” What is the underlying principle our Lord wishes to convey to us when He speaks of the purity of heart? It would be even more helpful to begin by asking a more fundamental question – what is the real meaning of the biblical “heart”?

It is clear that most of what we understand today about the human brain in terms of brain functions, the Bible assigns to the human heart. It is imperative that we recognize the fact that the Bible is not intended to serve as a science textbook. The Bible is God’s revelation to men of who He is, and what His eternal purpose is in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:10-11). However, even though the Bible does not explain scientific concepts, what the Bible describes about these concepts is absolutely accurate in its content and majestic in its poetic beauty. Assigning brain functions to the heart has been true historically, and to a great extent is still true today. Recently the wife of a close friend passed away and the man started experiencing frequent fainting spells or blackouts. He was finally admitted to the hospital by his family who were concerned that there might be an underlying physical cause for the blackouts. After a thorough series of tests the man was found to be in perfect physical health. The doctor’s diagnosis was that the man was suffering from “a broken heart!” The blackouts were a typical response to deep grief and sorrow.

It is clearly understood at present that the heart is fundamentally a remarkable muscular pump responsible for distributing blood throughout the body. The brain on the other hand is a profoundly complex organ in which resides the seat of the intellect – thought, reasoning, learning, decision-making, insight, memory, language, etc., as well as the seat of the emotions – grief, sorrow, laughter, love, anger, fear, etc. I suspect the family was much more relieved knowing that the blackouts were the result of “a broken heart” than if the doctor had told them their loved one was suffering from “a broken brain!” There is something to be said for poetic license!

Jesus said: “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22). On another occasion Jesus taught, “The good man brings good things out in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Clearly, wherever behavior relating to cognitive and/or emotional activity occurs in Scripture, it is the human mind (brain) that is implicated.

Those who have truly consecrated their lives to God, and have experienced a rebirth in the Lord Jesus Christ, have received a biblical “heart transplant”. Through the Prophet Ezekiel God says, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:19-20). Again, through the same prophet God says, “Rid yourselves of all offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:31- 32). First of all, we must appreciate the fact that these promises are not only to natural Israel, but to spiritual Israel as well. Apostle Paul reminds us that the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-33 has its fulfillment now in the lives of all true believers. Speaking of our Lord’s perfect sacrifice, he says, “The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First, He says, ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds, ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (Hebrews 10:15-18). Secondly, we will notice that in both citations from Ezekiel, the new heart is always accompanied by a new spirit. It is the power and influence of God’s Holy Spirit that brings about the transformation in the lives of believers resulting in a new heart – the “mind of Christ.” As we try to do God’s will in our own strength, we will continue to fail in our missions. If there is one lesson we must learn from God’s dealing with the nation of Israel under the Law Covenant, it is that we cannot live lives that please God in our own strength. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to do what is otherwise humanly impossible. “…’Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit’, says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).

The Apostle Paul reminds us of what God’s destiny is for each footstep follower of Jesus. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). To be “conformed to the likeness” of Jesus is to have the mind of Jesus – to think as He would and to respond to life experiences as He would. In short, to be conformed to the image of Jesus is to let Jesus live His life in us (1 Cor. 2:14-16).

This is precisely what Paul means when he says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). What a profound realization! Jesus desires to live the fullness of His life in us!

When Jesus teaches us: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God,” He is assuring us of the blessedness of having the heart – that is, the mind, of Jesus. To the extent that we are single-minded in purpose as we run for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, and as we seek to have our motives and desires fully under the control of Christ, we will experience untold blessings in our present lives and have the full assurance that we will see God in the life to come. How can we achieve this state of blessedness?

1. First, we must sincerely desire to be like the Master. We must realize that the more our hearts conform to His heart, the more fully will our lives glorify God. We must start, therefore, by seeking God’s power to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ in humility. Paul says, “Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. – Let Him be your example in humility – Who, although being essentially one with God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be grasped or retained; But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity] so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Therefore [because He stooped so low], God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5- 11 - The Amplified Version).
2. We must willingly and joyfully submit to God’s workmanship, knowing full well that if we try to go the course alone, we will fail miserably. Paul says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8- 10). “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).
   Barclay’s Translation truly captures the full impact of Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God who is at work in you, to put into you the will to desire and the power to achieve what his purpose has planned for you.”
3. We must realize that the ultimate victory over improper thoughts and motives is to submit every thought to the scrutinizing power of the Holy Spirit. This is indeed, the most profound spiritually enabling and 3 empowering work God can do in our lives! “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ …” (1 Cor. 10:4-5 NKJV).
4. We must appreciate the fact that achieving God’s destiny for us – being conformed to the image of Christ – will not be done overnight. It is a process that takes a lifetime. Therefore, we should never become discouraged. Nevertheless, how blessed it is to see the work in progress in the lives of God’s saints! “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV).
5. As God does His work in us, we need to avail ourselves of the two powerful implements He has given us and expects us to use to full advantage. First, we need to renew our minds (hearts) on a daily basis by being immersed in the word of God. The scripture in 2 Corinthians 3:18 which was quoted above clearly indicates that we are transformed in a stepwise manner – from glory to glory – into the image of Christ, as we behold His glory “as in a mirror,” that is, in the word of God! The second implement God has given us is equally as powerful. God has given us the extraordinary privilege and pleasure of being in constant communication and communion with him through prayer. As a result of God’s loving work in us, our lives must be a constant testimony of praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father and to our loving Savior, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, wanting the faithful ones in Colossae to experience the fullness of God’s grace in their lives, stresses the importance of God’s word and prayer in the following admonitions: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in words or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:14- 17).
6. And finally, let us bask in the sublime reality of our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness! Paul reminds us: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Praise God! It is that same faithfulness that speaks to our hearts through His Son who has taught us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

MORE LIKENESS TO THEE

O for a heart more like my
God, From imperfection free;
A heart conformed unto thy
Word, And pleasing, Lord, to thee.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer’s throne
Where only Christ is heard to
speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.

A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true and clean,
Which neither life nor death can part
From Him who dwells within;

A heart in every thought renewed,
And full of love divine,
Perfect, and right, and pure, and good
A copy, Lord, of Thine.

© CDMI – Free Bible Students