Be-Attitudes: Pure in Heart

We’re continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount. This week’s Bible Study will look at Jesus’ blessing on the pure in heart.

Prompt: What product uses the advertising slogan, “99.44% pure?”

Bible Passage: Mt 5:1-12

Key Verse:

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” – Mt 5:8

Digging Into The Word

1. Read our key verse, Matt 5:8. What comes to your mind when you read “pure in heart?” What percentage of your heart would you consider pure? What do you think would be acceptable to God? Is this possible?

2. Jesus was speaking to a crowd who had been taught to meticulously follow a code of law. Some, like the rich ruler in Luke 18:18-29 could claim they were blameless. How might they have reacted to Jesus’ call for purity of heart? How did the ruler react to Jesus’ challenge to make his religion a matter of the heart? See James 1:27.

For years I thought the phrase “pure in heart” meant perfectly free from sin, no taint of sin. How could that be possible? All have sinned. In my study, I discovered the Greek word for “pure” actually means cleansed.

3. How does this definition change your perspective of the phrase, pure in heart?

4. Read the following Scriptures: Titus 1:15,16, Hebrews 10:22, James 1:27, and 1 Peter 1:22. How do these verses describe the idea of a pure heart? According to 1 John 1:9, who initially cleanses or purifies us?

We aren’t 100% pure. All of us have been soiled by sin. We allow Jesus to cleanse, and then we actively work to keep ourselves cleaned up, not allowing ourselves to become tainted by the world’s corruption. Those who will see God have a filtering system on their lives that keeps them from becoming polluted by the world.

5. What other images can you think of that are examples of purifying, filtrating, or keeping a system clean? How do these help you understand the idea of keeping our hearts, minds, and attitudes clean as Christ-followers?

What’s next?

What areas of your life need some housecleaning? What filters do you need to apply to your life to prevent influence from the world’s wickedness?

Pray that God would renew your heart, that He would show you the areas that need cleansing. Pray this prayer along with the Psalmist:

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. – Psalm 51:10-12

Do you like to sing Scripture? Use this music score to sing the words from Psalm 51:10-12.