INTRODUCTION
This morning we are dealing with what may be, at least in some ways, the most significant attribute a Christian wears… purity in heart. Jesus in Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
The Pharisees were outwardly righteous and appeared to be pure. Jesus says that in order for a person to enter the kingdom of heaven, their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt. 5:20). So this matter is serious. Our righteousness must be deeper, or more pure, than that of the scribes and Pharisees or else our eternal soul will be lost. Jesus described the Pharisees as being like white-washed tombs (see Mt. 23). They looked nice on the outside, but they were full of dead men’s bones. Jesus said that they had the appearance of being righteous but were actually filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Their faith was not at the heart level. The exterior was a mere facade.
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
The word “pure” means “clean, innocent, guiltless, or free from dirt.” This cleanliness is not a physical cleanness, nor merely a cleanness that can be seen by others. It is purity in the recesses of the heart. It is purity in the eyes of God.
The heart in Scripture is seen as the domain in which our spirituality operates. It is the control center of our faith and the epicenter of our real relationship with God. When we become His children, we pledge our allegiance to our Lord from the depth of our hearts.
PURITY IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Notice just some of the heart issues mentioned within this sermon:
- Anger (5:21-26). In this text we are dealing with anger that is to the point of being expressed. But anger itself begins in the heart. It is a heart disease that needs to be dealt with.
- Next, Jesus mentions the sin of lust in 5:27-30. Lust itself, even if it is kept to the confines of the mind, is sinful in the sight of God, called here: “adultery of the heart.” Likely, the next section about divorce and immorality is mentioned because it is a natural progression that can begin with lust.
- Then Jesus talks about the making of oaths (5:33-37). Swearing falsely here is saying one thing while having the desire to do another, being deceptive.
- In chapter 6 Jesus spends considerable time addressing the motives for performing acts of righteousness (worship and good deeds). He starts the chapter with a strong warning: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them” (v. 1). Beware, or be very careful, concerning your motivations. Righteousness that is performed for the sake of the applause of others is no righteousness at all. Our righteousness, our faith, our purity needs to proceed from the heart. Any less depth than that is simply not purity. Purity is through and through. We need 24 karat purity!
- One verse in particular we should note is 6:21, where Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The heart follows what it places value in.
Therefore the Christian must make certain that his or her values are what they ought to be. If I value the way others perceive me too much, it may cause me to compromise my integrity. Look at 6:19-20. Jesus says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
When we treasure the right things, the heart will follow! Value the things of God more than anything else. Set your affections on Him; on His Son; on His will for your life. Set your heart on being with Him eternally! In 6:33 Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Lord willing, we will finish this lesson soon…
Daren Schroeder
