What We See of God with Pure Hearts Biblically

Biblical Foundation

The concept of seeing God with a pure heart is rooted in Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" ^[1]. This statement is part of a broader biblical theme that emphasizes the importance of inner purity and the heart's condition in one's relationship with God.

Understanding the Heart Biblically

In biblical terms, the "heart" is not just the seat of emotions but the center of a person's being, encompassing their thoughts, intentions, and character ^[5]. It is the source of life's issues, and God is said to try, know, search, and understand the heart ^[4]. The purity of heart Jesus speaks of involves a genuine, inward devotion to God, characterized by sincerity, integrity, and a commitment to follow God's laws and commandments.

Characteristics of the Pure in Heart

The pure in heart are described as having their hearts prepared to seek God, fixed on God, joyful in God, and perfect with God ^[3]. They are characterized by uprightness, cleanliness, and purity, with their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience ^[2]. This purity is not achieved by human effort alone but is a result of God's work in the heart, involving the renewal and sanctification that come through faith in Christ.

Seeing God

The promise that the pure in heart "shall see God" suggests a deep, spiritual perception of God's presence and character. This is not a physical sighting but a profound understanding and experience of God's reality. It is related to the biblical concept of knowing God, which involves a personal, relational knowledge that comes from a heart that is aligned with God's will ^[6].

Interpretation Across Traditions

Reformed and Presbyterian interpretations, as seen in the commentaries of John Calvin and Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, emphasize that the purity of heart is a prerequisite for experiencing God's presence and understanding His ways. Calvin notes that God looks into the heart and estimates works based on their source ^[10]. Baptist/Reformed interpretations, such as those by John Gill, highlight the role of faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in achieving and maintaining purity of heart ^[7].

Conclusion

The biblical concept of seeing God with a pure heart underscores the importance of inner purity and a genuine relationship with God. It is a theme that is developed across various biblical texts and is interpreted by Christian traditions as emphasizing the need for a heart that is sincere, pure, and devoted to God. This purity is seen as a gift of God's grace, achieved through faith and the work of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to experience a deep and meaningful connection with God ^{[8, 9]}.

Sources

Matthew “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. -- Matthew 5:8”
Hebrews “let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, -- Hebrews 10:22”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, Character of the Renewed — Prepared to seek God -- 2Ch 19:3; Ezr 7:10; Ps 10:17. Fixed on God -- Ps 57:7; 112:7. Joyful in God -- 1Sa 2:1; Zec 10:7. Perfect with God -- 1Ki 8:61; Ps 101:2. Upright -- Ps 97:11; 125:4. Clean -- Ps 73:1. Pure -- Ps 24:4; Mt 5:8. Tender -- 1Sa 24:5; 2Ki 22:19. Single and sincere -- Ac 2:46; Heb 10:22. Honest and good -- Lu 8:15. Broken, contrite -- Ps 34:18; 51:17. Obedient -- Ps 119:112; Ro 6:17. Filled with the law of God -- Ps 40:8; 119:11. Awed by the word of God -- Ps 119:161. Filled with the fear of God -- Jer 32:40. Meditat”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, The — Issues of life are out of -- Pr 4:23. God Tries. -- 1Ch 29:17; Jer 12:3. Knows. -- Ps 44:21; Jer 20:12. Searched. -- 1Ch 28:9; Jer 17:10. Understands the thoughts of. -- 1Ch 28:9; Ps 139:2. Ponders. -- Pr 21:2; 24:12. Influences. -- 1Sa 10:26; Ezr 6:22; 7:27; Pr 21:1; Jer 20:9. Creates a new. -- Ps 51:10; Eze 36:26. Prepares. -- 1Ch 29:18; Pr 16:1. Opens. -- Ac 16:14. Enlightens. -- 2Co 4:6; Eph 1:18. Strengthens. -- Ps 27:14. Establishes. -- Ps 112:8; 1Th 3:13. Should be Prepared to God. -- 1Sa 7:3. Given to God. -- Pr 23:26. Perfect with God. -- 1Ki 8:”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heart — According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not ”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God--Here, too, we are on Old Testament ground. There the difference between outward and inward purity, and the acceptableness of the latter only in the sight of God, are everywhere taught. Nor is the "vision of God" strange to the Old Testament; and though it was an understood thing that this was not possible in the present life (Exo 33:20; and compare Job 19:26-27; Isa 6:5), yet spiritually it was known and felt to be the privilege of the saints even here (Gen 5:24; Gen 6:9; Gen 17:1; Gen 48:15; Psa 2”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart,.... Not in the head; for men may have pure notions and impure hearts; not in the hand, or action, or in outward conversation only; so the Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men, but inwardly full of impurity; but "in heart". The heart of man is naturally unclean; nor is it in the power of man to make it clean, or to be pure from his sin; nor is any man in this life, in such sense, so pure in heart, as to be entirely free from sin. This is only true of Christ, angels, and glorified saints: but such may be said to be so, who, though”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 22:11: He that loveth pureness of heart,.... Though man's heart is naturally impure, and all that is in it, the thoughts, affections, mind, conscience, understanding, and will; yet there is such a thing as pureness of heart; as where the grace of God is; where there it pure love to God, Christ, and to holy and heavenly things and persons; where there is pure and unfeigned faith in Christ, and a purifying hope of eternal life by him; where the Holy Spirit dwells as a sanctifier, and Christ dwells by faith; where there is sincerity and integrity; and where the heart is spri”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 10:22: (Heb 4:16; Heb 7:19.) with a true heart--without hypocrisy; "in truth, and with a perfect heart"; a heart thoroughly imbued with "the truth" (Heb 10:26). full assurance-- (Heb 6:11); with no doubt as to our acceptance when coming to God by the blood of Christ. As "faith" occurs here, so "hope," and "love," Heb 10:23-24. sprinkled from--that is, sprinkled so as to be cleansed from. evil conscience--a consciousness of guilt unatoned for, and uncleansed away (Heb 10:2; Heb 9:9). Both the hearts and the bodies are cleansed. The legal purification”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 8.9: however, notice the order here observed by Moses; for he does not simply state that the worship which Abel had paid was pleasing to God, but he begins with the person of the offerer; by which he signifies, that God will regard no works with favor except those the doer of which is already previously accepted and approved by him. And no wonder; for man sees things which are apparent, but God looks into the heart, ( 1 Samuel 16:7 ;) therefore, he estimates works no otherwise than as they proceed from the fountain of the heart. Whence ”

Ask Your Own Question