" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew, 5:8). The two important words that need explanation in this context are "pure" and "see". Both of them may be used in two senses each; one material and the other spiritual besides shades of meaning in between. The Greek word used in the New Testament for 'pure' is 'katharos' and that too 27 times in various contexts. The clean cloth used for wrapping the body of Jesus for his burial (Matthew, 27:59) indicates its material sense. When Jesus said that his disciples were clean but not all of them meaning his betrayer (John, 13:10-11), he used the word in its spiritual sense. Shades of meaning in between these two poles of material and spiritual senses are to be seen in the psychological sense of the healing the possessed (Matthew, 12:22). The word is also used in curing diseases like leprosy (Luke,17: 11-19) where again different senses apply.
The Greek word for 'see' is 'horao' and is used 449 times in the New Testament. It also has two senses: literal and figurative. The literal sense refers to seeing with our physical eyes as when Jesus asked for a coin to see whose inscription was on it (Mark, 12: 15). When figuratively employed, it means to "to perceive", "to understand", "to experience" etc. In Romans,1:21b it is used in the sense of understanding or knowing God. It is used in the sense of 'experiencing' in John, 3:36, where it is said that he who refuses to obey the Son will not 'see' life. "Seeing" and "entering" the Kingdom of God (John, 3:3-5) are to be understood as experiencing and living in the Kingdom.
Moses, who was privileged to speak to God face to face just as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus, 33:11), was not allowed to see His face as no man could look upon the glory of God and live ( Exodus, 33: 19-23). The Apostle John testifies that no one has seen God at any time except the Son who is in the bosom of the Father (John, 1:18; 1 John, 412) If so, what is the meaning of the promise in this beatitude? The ' heart' referred to in this beatitude has nothing to do with the physical organ pumping blood to all parts of the body. It refers to the center of our personality, the essence of our individual existence around which our entire life turns like in a fulcrum. Spiritual purity of this center devoid of evil thoughts like murder, adultery, fornication, idolatry, impurity, enmity, anger, envy, hatred, lust for power, sex, greed, drunkenness etc. is presupposed before we are able to see God by living in His Kingdom. Mere legalistic and ritualistic approaches cannot please God, let alone the chance of seeing Him.
Purity of heart means that we are in conformity with God's ways of thinking and acting as King David was able to do. In this respect, even the great and wise King Solomon, son of King David, failed due to which God gave, after his death, a major part of his kingdom to his servant Jeroboam. Thus Solomon's vast kingdom was divided into Israel, under Jeroboam, and Judah, under Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Thus the division of original Israel, consisting of 12 Tribes took place; 11 Tribes with Jeroboam and one Tribe (Judah) with Rehoboam. Even this small portion was allowed to be kept back for the sake of David (1 Kings, chapters 12-16). King David was totally faithful in keeping and observing the commandments and statutes set by God and was considered as one after God's own heart. For his personal failure, David was ruthlessly punished by God to reform and renew him.
How should we conduct ourselves in order to be pure of heart? A divided heart may be a sign of an impure heart. It is impure without singleness of purpose. The double-minded person tries to serve both God and Mammon. Mammon stands here for money or wealth of this world. Jesus gave the reason for this sort of impurity as none can serve two masters at the same time (Matthew, 6: 24). The pure of heart has no hidden agenda. There is no ulterior motive in serving the Master other than glorifying His name This glorification is not divorced from the well-being, consisting in the enhancement of God's image, of the servant who glorifies God's name. As we cannot walk physically in both directions at the same time, we cannot reach our spiritual goal without singleness of purpose.
How, then, can we live in this world of material necessities, societal obligations, personal competitions etc. without compromising on the purity of our heart? It is possible to enjoy this world and all the avenues of life here and now if we practice detachment (see the post on 'Detachment'). It means to say that we need not be unnecessarily attached to persons and things in this world and thus keeping ourselves away from the poisonous elements contained in them. Our addiction to and abuse of persons and things gives a clear idea of what harm is hidden in an attitude of undue attachment. In order to keep a clean and pure heart we must surrender ourselves to the Pure Being (God) to whom we try to conform ourselves in our everyday life. A form of meditative prayer (contemplation) would help us to connect with that Ultimate Being in whose presence our life in the world will be fulfilling.
The Greek word for 'see' is 'horao' and is used 449 times in the New Testament. It also has two senses: literal and figurative. The literal sense refers to seeing with our physical eyes as when Jesus asked for a coin to see whose inscription was on it (Mark, 12: 15). When figuratively employed, it means to "to perceive", "to understand", "to experience" etc. In Romans,1:21b it is used in the sense of understanding or knowing God. It is used in the sense of 'experiencing' in John, 3:36, where it is said that he who refuses to obey the Son will not 'see' life. "Seeing" and "entering" the Kingdom of God (John, 3:3-5) are to be understood as experiencing and living in the Kingdom.
Moses, who was privileged to speak to God face to face just as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus, 33:11), was not allowed to see His face as no man could look upon the glory of God and live ( Exodus, 33: 19-23). The Apostle John testifies that no one has seen God at any time except the Son who is in the bosom of the Father (John, 1:18; 1 John, 412) If so, what is the meaning of the promise in this beatitude? The ' heart' referred to in this beatitude has nothing to do with the physical organ pumping blood to all parts of the body. It refers to the center of our personality, the essence of our individual existence around which our entire life turns like in a fulcrum. Spiritual purity of this center devoid of evil thoughts like murder, adultery, fornication, idolatry, impurity, enmity, anger, envy, hatred, lust for power, sex, greed, drunkenness etc. is presupposed before we are able to see God by living in His Kingdom. Mere legalistic and ritualistic approaches cannot please God, let alone the chance of seeing Him.
Purity of heart means that we are in conformity with God's ways of thinking and acting as King David was able to do. In this respect, even the great and wise King Solomon, son of King David, failed due to which God gave, after his death, a major part of his kingdom to his servant Jeroboam. Thus Solomon's vast kingdom was divided into Israel, under Jeroboam, and Judah, under Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Thus the division of original Israel, consisting of 12 Tribes took place; 11 Tribes with Jeroboam and one Tribe (Judah) with Rehoboam. Even this small portion was allowed to be kept back for the sake of David (1 Kings, chapters 12-16). King David was totally faithful in keeping and observing the commandments and statutes set by God and was considered as one after God's own heart. For his personal failure, David was ruthlessly punished by God to reform and renew him.
How should we conduct ourselves in order to be pure of heart? A divided heart may be a sign of an impure heart. It is impure without singleness of purpose. The double-minded person tries to serve both God and Mammon. Mammon stands here for money or wealth of this world. Jesus gave the reason for this sort of impurity as none can serve two masters at the same time (Matthew, 6: 24). The pure of heart has no hidden agenda. There is no ulterior motive in serving the Master other than glorifying His name This glorification is not divorced from the well-being, consisting in the enhancement of God's image, of the servant who glorifies God's name. As we cannot walk physically in both directions at the same time, we cannot reach our spiritual goal without singleness of purpose.
How, then, can we live in this world of material necessities, societal obligations, personal competitions etc. without compromising on the purity of our heart? It is possible to enjoy this world and all the avenues of life here and now if we practice detachment (see the post on 'Detachment'). It means to say that we need not be unnecessarily attached to persons and things in this world and thus keeping ourselves away from the poisonous elements contained in them. Our addiction to and abuse of persons and things gives a clear idea of what harm is hidden in an attitude of undue attachment. In order to keep a clean and pure heart we must surrender ourselves to the Pure Being (God) to whom we try to conform ourselves in our everyday life. A form of meditative prayer (contemplation) would help us to connect with that Ultimate Being in whose presence our life in the world will be fulfilling.
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