07/29/2012
“Blessed Are
The Pure In Heart”
The Pure In Heart”
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Scripture Reading:
I John 1:1-10 Please open your Bible with me today to the Gospel of Matthew chapter five.
According to the Book of Revelation, there is something unique and something beneficial about reading God’s word. Here’s what the Apostle John wrote in Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy ...” And here’s what the Apostle Paul says about it. I Timothy 4:13 “Till I come, give attendance [pay attention; devote yourself] to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” So, please follow as I read Matthew five beginning at verse one. Matthew 1:1 “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: (2) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, (3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Today’s topic comes from verse eight. It is “the pure in heart.” I’d like to accomplish two things in today’s sermon; one, to show you from the Bible what a pure heart is; and two, to answer the question, “How can we find it.” I’ve titled today’s sermon “Blessed Are The Pure.” Shall we pray? No doubt, having read the Sermon on the Mount and heard messages on the Beatitudes, you have some idea of what Jesus is referring to here. |
But I’d like to have you consider this. Have you begun to experience this condition called blessedness that Jesus says so much about?
Let me show you just how important this really is. First, the very first word of the LORD’s very first sermon is “blessed.” Imagine that! The God of the universe in the Person of Jesus Christ in the first sermon He delivers as a man conveys His desire that you experience true happiness. All through the Bible, there are two words which are used interchangeably. To be blessed is to be happy and vice versa. Second, Jesus uses the word no less than nine times successively. That also shows the importance of this condition He calls blessedness. Third, He places it out of ordinary word order. What I mean is this. He could have said “The pure in heart are blessed.” And that is true. And that’s certainly what the LORD included in what He said. But exactly what He said was this “Blessed are the pure in heart.” And why? Why does Jesus put this word ahead of everything else in this first sermon? Here’s at least one reason why. It’s for emphasis. He’s stressing the term. He wants you to focus your attention on it. He wants you to experience it. And He wants you to know that this is indeed His will for you and me. So, let me clarify just what the word means. “Blessedness” is a condition that comes from a right relationship with God; it’s true happiness; it’s a happiness that’s found in the Father/child relationship, the relationship between God and man. Next, I want to show you what the Bible says about this term “pure.” Here’s the word in the original. It’s kaqaros. It’s the root for our English word “catharsis.” |