By Roy B. Blizzard
As we continue in our study of the Beatitudes, this week’s scripture is from Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
This is an interesting Beatitude that is actually pregnant with meaning. It is a hint back at two of what are known as "The Temple Psalms."
Psalms 24:3-4
Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord and who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not taken My name in vain and hath not sworn deceitfully.
Psalms 84:5-8:
Happy is the man whose strength is in Thee, in whose heart are the highways passing through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs. Yea, the early rain clothes it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appearing before God in Zion.
The question before us in this Beatitude is, what does it mean to be pure in heart? If it is the pure in heart who will see God, then we should know what it means to be pure in heart. Notice in Psalm 24, "Who shall ascend unto the mountain of the Lord and stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not taken His name in vain." That is, he who has not used His name in a light manner as if it was nothing; he who has not sworn deceitfully.
The word used in Hebrew in this passage is "has not been fraudulent," "has not been deceitful." The word in Hebrew also means, "is not the kind of person who cheats another." This is the kind of person who will receive a blessing from the Lord, i.e., the man whose strength is in God, who follows in His pathways, who relies upon God for his strength. This is the kind of person who will appear before God.
David spoke often of the true worshipper and how blessed they are. I, too, affirm how blessed are those who with all their mind and soul rely upon God for their strength and stand praising Him. These are those who will get to see God.
