The Pure in Heart
The bestowal of the Messiah is comparable with the “pure in heart” among the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The Messiah promised to Abraham is Jesus Christ, originally God who took the form of man “as the Word became flesh” (John 1:14; Phil 2:6-8).
Meaning of “Purity”
In Greek, the word “pure” in Matthew 5:8 is katharos, meaning “clean,” or “pure.” Those who have un-clean hearts can never see the holy God. Such people will even die when they see God (Exod 3:6; 33:20; Isa 59:2). Particularly, being pure in heart means that the center of one’s heart (one’s thoughts and motives) is clean. It means that not only the action, but also the state of the heart that motivates the action, is upright. Such person is not double-minded (James 1:6-8). The Bible says that only those who are pure in heart can ascend into the hill of the Lord (Psa 24:3-4). To ascend into the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place means to stand before the Lord and see His face. Those who have clean hands and whose hearts are pure can stand before the Lord and see His face (Psa 24:4).
Purity of Abraham
Abraham’s heart was faithful. A faithful heart only follows the Word of God. According to Genesis 12:4, Abraham went forth as the Lord had spoken to him. Nehemiah testified and said; “You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name Abraham, for You found his heart faithful before You (Neh 9:7-8). Here the word “faithful” is aman in Hebrew, meaning “sincere” and “loyal.” This indicates that Abraham’s heart was clean and without any lies. The ultimate secret in order for Abraham to meet God was the purity of his heart. His and all his deeds were faithful and pure so that he was able to meet God.
Purity of the Saints
According to John 1:45-51, Nathanael met Jesus Christ, the incarnated God who came to this earth, because Nathanael possessed a pure heart. John 1:47 testifies, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Here, the word “deceit” is dolos in Greek, meaning “cunning,” “trick,” and “evil plot.” The fact that there was no deceit in Nathanael demonstrates that he was a man with a pure heart. While Apostle Paul was writing the last letter to Timothy, his beloved son in faith, in order to entrust mission to him, Paul commended Timothy for his clear conscience and sincere faith (2 Tim 1:2-5).
Conclusion: In the end times, we must become pure saints in order to meet the Second Coming Christ. At the wedding feast of the Lamb, the brides must wear fine linen, bright and clean. Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Moreover, there are the armies in heaven that are following the Second Coming Christ on white horses. They also are clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Rev 19:14). Today, we must wear purity through the blood of the cross, and may we receive a blessing to stand before the Second Coming (Rev 22:14).
