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Bible Study Guide: Beatitudes
Matthew 5: 3-12
“Blessed are pure in heart, for they will see God.”
This beatitude is one of the most striking of all beatitudes. For who can claim to be pure in heart? If we peek into our hearts, we all know that we are not pure, we have thoughts, attitudes, desires which are not pure. We may hide it from others, but we cannot hide it from ourselves. So, what can we learn from this beatitude? Let me start with some of the bible verses related to ‘pure in heart’ and ’seeing God’, and let the Word of God speak to you though it.
Pure in Heart:
* Psalms 24:4-5 – “He who has clean hands and pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive the blessing from the Lord.”
* 1 Timothy 1:5 – ” The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
* Psalms 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
* Psalms 119:9-10 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart. Do not let me stray from your commands.”
Blessed are Pure in Heart
Seeing God:
* Exodus 33:20 – “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
* 1 Timothy 6:16 – “Who is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.”
Beatitudes: Pure in Heart:
* ‘Pure’ is an absolute term. You cannot say that this is ‘purer’. Being pure itself means that it is not defiled, polluted or mixed with impurities.
* The heart is regarded as being the seat of the intellect, the feelings and the will. Often heart implies the whole moral nature of fallen man. (Jer 17:9)
* So, how can we make it pure? It is beyond our reach to make it pure. It is God who initiates, sanctifies and perfects the heart of man who put his trust in him. It begins when we realize that we cannot do it on our own. We go through the process of sanctification throughout our life. And it will be perfected when we will be glorified in Christ Jesus.
* Sanctification is a difficult process. Water has to go through heat and fire to be purified. Gold has to go though fiery furnace to be perfected.
* 1st Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
* So, how can we pursue purity? By living, active fellowship with God through daily personal time with God in his words and prayer, allowing God to purify us though His Holy Spirit in 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)
Matthew 5: 3-12
“Blessed are pure in heart, for they will see God.”
This beatitude is one of the most striking of all beatitudes. For who can claim to be pure in heart? If we peek into our hearts, we all know that we are not pure, we have thoughts, attitudes, desires which are not pure. We may hide it from others, but we cannot hide it from ourselves. So, what can we learn from this beatitude? Let me start with some of the bible verses related to ‘pure in heart’ and ’seeing God’, and let the Word of God speak to you though it.
Pure in Heart:
* Psalms 24:4-5 – “He who has clean hands and pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive the blessing from the Lord.”
* 1 Timothy 1:5 – ” The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
* Psalms 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
* Psalms 119:9-10 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart. Do not let me stray from your commands.”
Blessed are Pure in Heart
Seeing God:
* Exodus 33:20 – “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
* 1 Timothy 6:16 – “Who is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.”
Beatitudes: Pure in Heart:
* ‘Pure’ is an absolute term. You cannot say that this is ‘purer’. Being pure itself means that it is not defiled, polluted or mixed with impurities.
* The heart is regarded as being the seat of the intellect, the feelings and the will. Often heart implies the whole moral nature of fallen man. (Jer 17:9)
* So, how can we make it pure? It is beyond our reach to make it pure. It is God who initiates, sanctifies and perfects the heart of man who put his trust in him. It begins when we realize that we cannot do it on our own. We go through the process of sanctification throughout our life. And it will be perfected when we will be glorified in Christ Jesus.
* Sanctification is a difficult process. Water has to go through heat and fire to be purified. Gold has to go though fiery furnace to be perfected.
* 1st Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
* So, how can we pursue purity? By living, active fellowship with God through daily personal time with God in his words and prayer, allowing God to purify us though His Holy Spirit in 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)