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Pure Heart
What is the reason behind these studies? What is the goal of the instruction we are trying to
give? Hopefully, our goal is the same as yours; which should be the same as the one stated by Paul
in 1 Timothy 1:5, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience
and a sincere faith."
In this verse Paul lists the three things that work together to lead us to love.
What can we say about a pure heart? Who can claim to have one? This is the same question
that Solomon asks in Proverbs 20:9, "Who can say 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my
sin'?" This is the question we want to consider and, hopefully, answer.
The first thing we need to do is decide what a pure heart is. In Mark 7:21-23, Jesus defines an
impure heart this way, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts and
fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and
defile the man." So a pure heart is one that is free from sin, including the ones mentioned by Jesus.
The Bible teaches us that a pure heart is applied to at least four things: our thoughts, our speech,
our conduct and our priorities.
Philippians 4:8 instructs us, "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if
anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Jesus informs us in the part of the
Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5:21-32 that impure thoughts, as well as sinful actions,
will condemn us.
In Proverbs 22:11, Solomon points out the association between a pure heart and proper speech,
"He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend." Turning again
to the Sermon on the Mount, we find in Matthew 5:33-37 that Jesus agrees with this association.
James 3:1-12 gives some very clear teaching on this subject.
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren," this passage instructs, "knowing that as
such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not
stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put
the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look
at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very
small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the
body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that
which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For
every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed
by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the
likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things
ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter
water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water
produce fresh."
James begins by saying that one who tames his tongue is able to control his entire body. He
then points out the difficulty in accomplishing this goal. He concludes by pointing out the
contradiction of having a tongue that attempts both blessing and cursing.
Returning once again to Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount, we see in verses 21,22 and
38-48 that a pure heart must be associated with proper conduct. James 3:13 gives this question and
its answer, "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his
deeds in the gentleness of wisdom." Verse 17 tells us that the wisdom from above is, "first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy."
Let's go back to the Sermon on the Mount one more time to see the relationship between a pure
heart and priorities. Matthew 6:19,20 warns us to lay up treasures in heaven instead of on earth.
Later in this chapter, Jesus cautions against worrying about physical needs. He promises in verses
32-33, "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you
need all these things. But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things shall
be added to you."
So, a pure heart is applied to our thoughts, speech, conduct and priorities. In short, it must affect
every aspect of our lives.
If this is true, then we will not be able to hide the fact that we have a pure heart. In Matthew
23:26-27, Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees with these words, "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full
of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and the dish,
so that the outside of it may become clean also."
Now that we understand what a clean heart is, we still need to know how to obtain it. How do
we go about obtaining a pure heart? The Bible gives three things that work together to lead us in
the right direction. They are the example of God, the Word of God and the wisdom from above.
"And every one who has his hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure," 1 John 3:3
encourages us. So we must turn to the example of God in order to purify our hearts. Jesus says in
John 14:9, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." If we want to see God and follow His
example, we must see Jesus and follow the pattern He has set. This can be accomplished only
through study of the Bible, especially the New Testament.
So, obviously, another thing that carries us to a pure heart is the Word of God. Psalm 119, the
longest chapter in the Bible, contains these words in verse 140, "Thy word is very pure, therefore
Thy servant loves it." Proverbs 30:5 assures us, "Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to
those who take refuge in Him." The pure and tested Word leads to a pure and secure heart.
And, as we have already seen in James 3:17, the wisdom from above is first of all pure. Men
may give us a lot of theories about ways to obtain a pure heart. Religious theories and various
theologies abound. But only the wisdom from above is able to deliver what it promises.
Are you interested in having a pure heart? Do you really have any choice? James 4:8 urges,
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify you
hearts, you double minded."
David writes in the first five verses of the 24th Psalm, "The earth is the Lord's, and all it
contains, the world, and those who dwell in it, For He has founded it upon the seas, and established
it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy
place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and
has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the
God of his salvation."
But, is this an impossible dream? Can we have a clean heart? Yes, there is one way to acquire
a pure heart. We can never be so good that we no longer feel the guilt of sin. But God is able to
give us a pure heart as His free gift through His Son Jesus.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God,” David pleads in Psalm 51:10 "and renew a steadfast spirit
within me."
What can we expect if we purify our hearts? We have already seen in 1 Timothy 1:5 that a pure
heart directs us toward love. 1 Peter 1:22,23 states, "Since you have in obedience to the truth
purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for
you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the
living word of God."
It's the truth that is contained in the living Word of God that provides us with the pathway to a
pure heart. A pure heart is synonymous with freedom from the guilt of sin. In other words, you
shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.
Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R),
(C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977.
Used by permission."