Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
Open Your Bible
Matthew 5:8, Ezekiel 36:22-28, Psalm 24:1-10, Revelation 22:1-5
BY Kaitlin Wernet
Text: Matthew 5:8, Ezekiel 36:22-28, Psalm 24:1-10, Revelation 22:1-5
The doctor’s office wasn’t on my list of must-see destinations in Italy, but it’s the one I got to check off the list just 72 hours into my semester abroad.
I’d intentionally chosen a program without any familiar faces—just me and the open road! Instead, it was just me… and the scratching. And the hives.
The minute the itchiness ensued, I immediately began washing all my clothes and sheets, then used every last drop of my brand-new bottle of soap in the shower. But it got worse, sending me to the farmacia, which was closed, followed by the doctor’s office, all the while accompanied by a translator who did not know the word for “hives.”
This isn’t the first time I’d taken matters into my own hands, working to scrub away my flaws for a pristine exterior. Just today, I’ve held doors, given compliments, and tweeted Scripture—which are all good things, but my motives are off. And do you know what I see when I do these things? Nothing. I’m hiding so well that I don’t see a thing—not myself, and definitely not God.
Sitting in the doctor’s office chair, I listened to the translator and the doctor intensely converse, unable to decipher what they were saying. Then, the translator turned to me, diagnosing an allergic reaction to an ingredient specific to Italian soap and detergent.
What I’d been using to hide and treat my condition was actually the root of my problem. My attempts to outwardly correct my inward shame had only exposed it more.
When I read, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8), I’m sent scrambling, trying to scrub my heart of its impurities. Reading that verse makes me want to work harder and look better. But in reality, I start to hide more, feel less, and then wonder why I can’t see God in the midst of my shame.
I want to see Him. I want to see Him so badly that I’ve shamed my sinful heart into hiding. But Praise the Lord, He is not hiding from us, and nothing is hidden from Him. God sees us and knows us long before we could ever think to seek Him. He saw us first.
For “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). He sees us when we are impressive, as well as indecent. He knows our hiding places and wants to give us a better one (Psalm 32:7).
While we are busy trying to correct our outward behavior and conceal our inward brokenness, we miss the work God is already doing:
“For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
–Ezekiel 36:24-28
By His grace, may we stop hiding from Him in shame, and instead turn to face the One who has already blessed us with the purity of Christ and washed us clean.
72 thoughts on "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart"
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My house is always clean and tidy. Always…I work hard on the outside, but need to turn to the inside. I try, I do, but as it says in Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. for what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I fall victim to being lured away by the glitter of this world. To gossip, idolizing our bodies, showing yourself as nice when your heart is whispering something else. To not always appreciating my husband who is the nicest man. We are not perfect. We need to also show ourselves grace so that we can turn to Him, the only one who can help create a pure heart in ourselves. Oh God, please let the lure of You be greater than this world. For I know that in You is where I find peace, comfort, joy, strength, perseverance, and LOVE. Prayers sweet SHE’s.
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LYNNE FROM ALABAMA and MICHELLE PATIRE – Bless you, sisters; you made my heart smile! Lynne, I sang in choir and quartet and trio for years and, like you, I miss it so much!!! We have a praise team at our church and the singing is great, but not the same as the fellowship with choir. I am certain that you make God smile when you burst out in song! ❤
Michelle, what a worthy cause! Joining you now in praying for that event/ministry.❤
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GOOD morning beautiful She’s☀️. After reading today’s devotional and scriptures, I almost didn’t comment today. I started out by reading all of your comments. And I guess in a way I’m finding myself feeling the same way as most of you. My heart is far from pure for sure. Even last night, when my mother was making conversation, it was getting on my nerves. Though my words weren’t ugly, they weren’t helpful either. I recall that old saying, “if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything at all.” I should’ve kept my mouth shut last night. But God… As Tina always says. Speaking of Tina, I was so blessed by your words this morning. I am ashamed of how I acted last night but I’m grateful for God‘s encouraging words this morning. It’s a brand new day, clean slate, please, pray that my words and actions would be pleasing to the Lord especially towards my mom.
TOTALLY, unrelated, please pray as I navigate whether to fix my driver side door or not. Unfortunately, someone tried to break into my car and messed up the keyhole and now my car doesn’t beep twice confirming that my car is completely locked. It’s an expense I didn’t need. I was advised to take it to the Honda dealer to see if anything else can be done. Even though I don’t think so, I’m going go anyway. Thankfully, as long as I “look” through the windows at my doors are locked. I think I’m gonna be OK. But I can’t help feel hurt that somebody would do that when I worked hard for this God-given gift on my vehicle. -
Good morning, sweet SRT sisters! I am enjoying this study with each of you and am blessed by your insights and comments. CEE GEE—I love all your song suggestions, especially Surely Goodness and Mercy from yesterday. That brought back a lot of memories and I actually burst into song. LOL. I used to sing in the choir and on the praise team but had to stop due to vocal cord issues. My singing this morning was rough and it made me laugh/cringe but I’m sure the Lord enjoyed it!
ALEIDA—I’m praying for you and your husband as you sell your house and move. I’m praying for God to move in Victor’s heart and in his circumstances. Praying for his upcoming visit.
RHONDA J—I’m praying for your unspoken request.
DONNA WOLCOTT—I’m praying for safety for your friend in Israel and for all those there. May God intervene in that whole situation.
I’m praying for all other needs as well. Have a blessed day!
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Hi Shes. Just popping in to say I’ve been trying to check in for prayer requests as I read another SRT study until break is over.
@AZ Walker, I appreciate your prayer response and agree!@Rhonda J- lifting you up and praying God’s blessing and grace to you in your unnamed need. May He show you His goodness and glory.
@Cee Gee- I love this song! My mom and I actually picked this as the opening for a worship gathering we are helping to host Saturday.
I’m kind of conflicted about God’s will for the event. It’s supposed to rain (it is an outdoor event) and my mom and I haven’t had time to practice together at all! Her and my dad just left for a two day anniversary trip. I wonder if that is God’s way of saying it isn’t good timing. My friend and I who are hosting this event are searching for alternative locations indoors to have it, but at this point, I feel very unprepared to lead worship with hardly any practice of music. I don’t normally lead worship publicly. I’ve only done a few small group settings… But I know I am capable of it. We have another singer involved and there is no time for her to practice with us. I am usually a planner and prepper… It’s a whole thing. I’m not really sure what God wants to do with this event. I originally felt a need to pray for the area we are worshipping in (lots of witchcraft and dark things guided as “Halloween” events), but we can do that with or without an event. Anyways. This has been on my mind a lot, but I am believing God to do His will regardless of our lack of plans and preparation.
@Aleida- praying God’s will be done in this visit and Victor will walk away from this seeing God’s grace through yourself and your husband!
@Tina- I saw your comment on the study I am doing from 2017. You are a long haul SRT woman! Lol. I love it! :) Churchmouse was there, too.
Appreciate all you ladies and can’t wait to study with you again, soon!
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From Got Questions: The Greek word for “pure” in Matthew 5:8 is katharos. It means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” Interestingly, the word can refer specifically to that which is purified by fire or by pruning. John the Baptist told people that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Malachi speaks of the Messiah as being like a “refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3:2). Jesus refers to believers as being the branches and to Himself as being the vine (John 15:1-17). For a vine to produce fruit, it must be pruned. Those who are truly “pure,” then, are those who have been declared innocent because of the work of Jesus and who are being sanctified by His refining fire and His pruning.
Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Along with Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 36:26 is one of my favorite verses: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
A prayer from Billy Graham web page about this beatitude:
“Forgive me, Lord Jesus, my heart is far from pure. I confess to You all my innermost thoughts.”One if my favorite songs, too, is Open the Eyes of My Heart:
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you
I want to see you
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you
I want to see you
To see you high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord..
There’s a lot more to the chorus if you want to look it up! ❤Lifting each of you and your prayers to our Father. ❤
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Praying for you all this morning and your requests, for peace in your homes, improved communication with your loved ones, relief from pain. Praying for Israel, praying for Donna Wolcott’s friend and her friend’s family, praying for the safety of the Israeli soldiers, the hostages, wisdom for their leaders and our world leaders.
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GM She’s
Blessed are the Pure of Heart! For they, they will see God!
I can hear the song singing this scripture! It is Elevation Worship “Kingdom.”I have an unspoken prayer request, ty! And prayers for all of you as always!
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