Blessed [are] the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
What does “pure in heart mean”?
Scripture interprets Scripture. Proverbs 20:9 (NIV) Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?
According to this Scripture the pure in heart are those who are clean and without sin. Is this possible? Is there any human being who can sincerely boldly say “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin? Strangely the answer is no and yes.
The answer is no because all have sinned and fall short of God’s standard of purity. Romans 3:10, 23 (NIV). As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In other words all men and women are born with an impure or unclean heart.
All of humanity were made sinners or impure in heart not of our own doing but in Adam when he sinned from the beginning.
Romans 5:12 (NIV) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.
But then thank God the answer is yes because God Himself has provided the means for everyone to have God’s own standard of purity
Romans 3:21, 22, 24(NIV) 21But now apart from the law the Righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22This Righteousness is given through Faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
24And all are justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
No one can, all of humanity cannot say ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin” in and of ourselves.
But thank God that everyone and anyone no matter how deep they were buried in sin can because of the Redemption in Christ sincerely and boldly say ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”; “I have washed my heart pure in the sin removing and soul cleansing precious Blood of the Lamb”.
So the pure in heart, those who are clean and without sin aren’t those who try and struggle in their own wisdom, strength, and will power not to sin but those who trust in Jesus Christ and the Redemption He has brought us through His Crucifixion death and resurrection. Obedience to or believing, trusting in Jesus Christ and what He has done is what produces a pure heart which leads to a life and walk of purity – a righteous and holy life. This is what seeing God is all about. This is the blessed life.