Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8
Pure is the Greek word katharos. Speaks of being clean, spotless, without blemish, gold or silver that has no impurity or alloy, a pure bloodline, etc.
This can be spoken of in two ways (and is used in two ways in Scripture)
- Ritually, or ceremonially – there is a purification physically/outwardly (this is the main use in the OT)
- Internally – of the heart, this is the way Jesus and much of the NT uses the word. Jesus moves from external acts and procedures to internal purity of heart.
Do we make ourselves pure? Of course not! We must be made pure by God (Ps 51:10), and because of His work in us we strive to obey and please him both inwardly and outwardly.
The result is that we will see God. This is both a future promise of joining Him for eternity, as well as a present promise of drawing near to Him. We experience the presence of God in this lifetime, and have the hope of eternally dwelling in His presence.
