Who are the pure in heart?
I agree with those interpreters of Scripture who see how some of the Beatitudes correlate with others. For example, the poor in spirit correspond most closely with the merciful, the mourners with those who are pure in heart, and the meek with those who are the peacemakers. It makes good sense that those who have mourned their sin, received God's forgiveness, and extended that forgiveness to others are those whose hearts are clean, pure, and whole. (See
Lloyd-Jones, p. 91, and
MacArthur, p. 154.)
The Greek words in
Matthew 5:8 are very revealing. The word that is translated "pure" is the Greek word
katharos. It is where we get words in English like chaste, cathartic, and catharsis. The basic meaning of this word is to be cleansed from filth, free from sin. In medical terminology, it means to clean a wound or an infected area.
I had a cathartic moment years ago when we had a workday at church and I helped for a couple of hours. Toward the end of the morning, I felt my ankle go out. Later, it went out again, and this time I felt a sharp pain in the side of my ankle. I then thought I must have torn something. I went home, took off my tennis shoe, and pulled out this long thorn that had been embedded in my ankle right above the bone. As soon as I removed it, I had no problems. A doctor friend said, "You know those thorns can cause infection, so you will want to clean that wound." So, I cleaned it with alcohol and rubbed in some Neosporin. Now, there are some spiritual truths to be gleaned from the thorn, such as Paul's thorn in the flesh or how sin trips us up, etc. But what I took away from this was that I need to be just as aggressive and proactive removing any thorn of pride, bitterness, envy, anger, etc. that would contaminate my heart and cause a stumbling or tripping up of my spiritual walk with God.
The Greek word translated "heart" in
Matthew 5:8 is
kardia, from which we get words like cardiac and cardiology. The Bible speaks of the heart as encompassing the total being of man—personality, intellect, and will. Jesus is not speaking of the literal muscle that pumps blood to the extremities of our physical body. Rather, He is addressing who you really are on the inside: your soul, spirit, and intellect—that which makes you the prized creation of God, unlike the plants, animals, and all other created beings.
Are there any thorns you need to ask God to remove that have contaminated your heart and your walk with Him? Ask Him now, and He will help and heal you.
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