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MATTHEW 5: 8

"BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART"

I. WHAT IS MEANT BY "PURE IN HEART"?
        A. Greek word "Katharos."
                1. Clean - hands that had been washed.
                2. Wheat that had been winnowed - chaff removed.
                3. Greek root to purge or cleanse.
        B. The heart is the center of ones being.
                1. The heart considered the throne of the spirit.
                        a. As the mind the throne of the soul.
                        b. Difference between head belief and heart belief.
                2. The Pharisees were concerned about the outward purgings (found fault with
                   disciples).
                3. "Keep thy heart with all diligence."
        C. "The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked..."
                1. Jesus not talking about natural state of heart.
                2. The heart needs cleansing.
                3. David prayed, "Create within me a clean heart."
        D. We have the difficulty of the renewed spirit in the unrenewed body.
                1. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.
                2. Paul said, "To will is present with me, but how to perform that which is
                   good I find not."

II. THE POSITION OF THE BEATITUDES.
        A. This is in association with "Blessed are they that mourn." 
                1. What are they mourning about?
                        a. The impurity of their heart.
                2. Those who are pure in heart are those who have mourned over impurity.

III. THIS BEATITUDE EMPHASIZES THE NECESSITY OF GOD'S WORK OF CLEANSING OUR LIVES.
        A. We may cleanse our bodies.
        B. We might after a fashion cleanse our minds.
        C. Only God can cleanse our hearts.
                1. There is no way I can make myself pure in heart.

IV. THE LORD PUTS THE EMPHASIS IN THE HEART.
        A. Pharisees were emphasizing the actions.
        B. Men often emphasize the intellect.

V. THEY SHALL SEE GOD.
        A. You see God today where other men are blind.
                1. In a sunset.
                2. In all life forms.
                3. In the events of history.
                4. In the daily happenings of your life.
        B. In the future we shall see Him.
                1. "Now we see through the dark glass."