Daily Devotion

Are you pure in heart?

I suppose we need to know what pure in heart means before we can answer that question. We find an interestingly similar passage in Psalm 24, the only other place in Scripture that we see the phrase, “pure in heart”.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

What has been translated as “has…a pure heart” is the same language as Matthew’s “pure in heart”. In Psalm 24, the question is being asked, “Who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in His holy place?” This is a passage about worship. The one who goes into God’s holy place is the one who has clean hands and who is pure in heart.

The person with clean hands and a pure heart is described as…

• One who does not lift up his soul to what is false
• One who does not swear deceitfully

To lift your soul to what is false is to worship an idol, a false god. The next line is poetic parallelism. So, it doesn’t mean that the person didn’t lie, it’s referring back to the previous line about worshiping an idol. So, it’s someone who hasn’t sworn by a false god, something that is a part of the idol worship practice.

You can boil it down to this. The pure in heart are those who worship the one true God rather than worshiping a false god. (idol).

Why did the people of Israel go to worship. The two primary reasons were to be forgiven and to offer thanks and praise.

The author of Psalm 24, David also wrote Psalm 51. In Psalm 51, David is repenting for his sin and he writes the following:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10

Indeed, when we turn to the one true God, rather than idols, for mercy and forgiveness, God cleanses and purifies us.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

Blessed are you who are pure in heart, who have not turned to false gods or idols, but have turned to the one true God through Jesus Christ. You are pure, not because you have purified yourself, but because in His mercy God has purified you. You will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of your salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

As Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, you “shall see God.”

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Create in me a clear heart and renew a right spirit within me. You and you alone can make me pure, remove my unrighteousness, and give me righteousness. Therefore, I know that I shall see Your face on the day of glory and forever more.

Amen.