Disciples learn the path of blessedness,
celebrating that the ‘pure in heart’ will see God
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."
~Jesus
Part One: Scripture seems to acknowledge a way in which we as sinners can purify our hearts, such as with a command to do so in James 4:8: "purify your hearts, you double-minded".
Those words in James fall under a broader call from God to submit to Him and resist the devil. These are both clearly seen as works of man – albeit empowered by God’s Spirit – and involve a call to repentance.
These same words of James are an unmistakable parallel with Psalm 24:4-5 where those with clean hands and a pure heart will be blessed. Consider taking a few minutes to read through James 4:1-10 and Psalm 24:1-10. They will give you a great scriptural foundation for this week’s beatitude. Those verses will help us capture the blessings that Jesus speaks of and provides for in terms of experiencing God.
James 4:1-10
Submit Yourselves to God
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Psalm 24:1-10
Of David. A psalm.
- The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it; - for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters. - Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place? - The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god. - They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior. - Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob. - Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. - Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle. - Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in. - Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Prayer For the Week
Father God, in reading through James 4 and Psalm 24, I see how much You desire people to draw near to You, to come to You. I come in the name of Jesus and ask that You would continue to shape me – the actions of my hands and the attitude of my heart. I want to become more like Jesus, the only One who truly maintained a pure heart throughout His life. I am His disciple, Your child, and in His name I pray. Amen.
Sermon on the Mount, Episode 11:
Why Do the Beatitudes Matter for the Overworked and Hopeless?
Why do we not find the Sermon on the Mount in the gospels of Mark or John? Why is “blessed” not a good translation of the word ‘makarios’ (μακάριος)? And if Jesus says that mourning, powerlessness, and poverty are the key to the good life, should we pursue those things? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from the first seven episodes of the Sermon on the Mount series.
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/why-do-beatitudes-matter-overworked-and-hopeless/
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God
Psalm 119:97-104 13th letter: Mem (מ)
- Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long. - Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies. - I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes. - I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts. - I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word. - I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me. - How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! - I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Pondering Point
The meaning of Mem is water or depths of wisdom. The Psalmist nods to this depth of wisdom that comes not just with understanding but with obedience.