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

Some time back, I was talking to someone who wasn’t on good terms with the spouse.

When I probed further in order to understand the situation better, I got the shocker.

Admittedly, this person got married out of “tiredness” over “too many questions that people kept asking.”

“Otherwise personally, marriage was never really one of the things that I aspired to,” the person, who claims to be a Christian, said.

When I asked whether it wasn’t a little selfish that one could do such a thing, the person replied, “Life is about doing what makes you happy, isn’t it”?

Our meditation today quotes our Lord Jesus saying that the pure in heart are “blessed” for “they shall see God.”

Of course, the aspect of “seeing God” is much deeper than simply looking at Him.

It may also imply experiencing His beauty, power and glory, and of course in addition to His presence.

Jesus was referencing Psalm 24:3-5, which says; “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.”

Psalm 73:1 adds; “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.”

In James 4:8, the Bible says; “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

This implies that a person with a pure heart is not “double-minded” – he/she doesn’t say or do things with ulterior motives.

Being ‘pure in heart’ is a comprehensive spiritual state that combines sincere devotion, moral integrity, and authentic living.

But it’s not merely about external behavior but the genuine alignment of one’s inner self with divine principles and standards.

Simply put, a ‘pure heart’ is characterized by sincerity, moral clarity, and authentic devotion to God.

Simply put, a ‘pure heart’ is characterized by sincerity, moral clarity, and authentic devotion to God.

It is a state of inner moral and spiritual clarity characterized by sincerity, single-minded devotion, and freedom from hidden motives.

In the original language, the word used for ‘pure in heart’ is ‘katharos,’ which means ‘free from impurities.’ 

It’s from that word that we derive the English word ‘cathartic’ – an adjective that describes something that has a purging or cleansing effect, often emotionally.

A pure heart is sincere and free from corrupt desires.

It is single-minded and displays undivided devotion to God or some other person.

A pure heart is free from divided loyalties, it is authentic and transparent, characterized by genuine motives and intentions. 

It is in a beautiful heart that is in alignment with divine principles and thus able to perceive spiritual truths and presence.

A pure heart manifests in sincere humility and selflessness, honest communication, ethical decision-making practices, and consistent moral behavior when dealing with others.

So, it involves both personal character and practical living, leading to deeper spiritual perception and more meaningful relationships with both God and others.

It means aligning one’s inner self with God’s divine will, striving for honor and integrity in thoughts, motives, and actions.

The Word of God commands us to “purify your hearts, you double-minded,” which implies that it is within our power and ability to do it.

It is means that cultivating a pure heart is actually possible.

Indeed, developing a pure heart is a gradual process that requires patience, consistency, and sincere intention.

A ‘pure heart’ is always a work in progress – it’s a gradual work of ‘sanctification’ – not about achieving perfection but rather continuous growth and transformation.

We develop a pure heart by being intentional about practicing honesty in all our interactions – maintaining integrity in personal and professional life.

We cultivate a pure heart by dedicating our lives to serving others without expecting rewards.

We groom a pure heart by trying to communicate with empathy. 

We do it by readily and unreservedly asking for and offering forgiveness to others when things go wrong.

We develop a pure heart by learning to appreciate and express gratitude to God and others for every little thing they did and do.

Finally, we cultivate a pure heart by minimising negative influences and deliberately choosing to associate with individuals or communities that inspire spiritual growth and morally upright living.