THE GOSPELS: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: BEATITUDE 6, BLESSED are the PURE in HEART, for they will SEE GOD, Part 1

10 July 2026

We are proceeding to study the SERMON of YESHUA on the MOUNT.

We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians. We use the Hebrew letters for the name of God, YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in English is indicated in capital letters in the Scriptures. The reason being that the Jewish writers removed the vowels in God’s name out of fear of transgressing the third Commandment of taking His Name in vain. And today there is a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of His Name.  We also refer to Him as Abba Father and use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

We are studying the sixth BEATITUDE as written in Matthew 5:8 where Yeshua our Messiah taught: “How BLESSED (meaning happy and fortunate) are the PURE in HEART! For they will SEE God.”

So today we will commence talking about what it means to have a PURE HEART.

So let’s first look at PURITY that begins in internally in the heart (emotions) and the mind (thoughts) leading to external behavior and actions resulting in living a life of righteousness and holiness.

The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary defines PURITY as the state of being PURE, untouched, unblemished (flawless, blameless), unmixed (authentic/ true/ faithful, genuine/ honest). And we read of two comparisons as explanations of PURITY, namely PURE GOLD (Exodus 25:17) and PURE OIL (Leviticus 24:2).

We read in Philippians 4:8 how to live in PURITY, when Paul encourages believers to: “focus your THOUGHTS on what is true (the Word of God is our source of TRUTH), noble (honorable, descent), PURE (unpolluted, clean), lovable or admirable (worthy, excellent, good), on some virtue or on something praiseworthy (commendable).”

In 1^st Thessalonians 4:1-5:24 Paul gives a summary of what it entails to live a PURE LIFE that pleases God the Father, united with Yeshua the Messiah, namely:

• ‘What God (the Father) wants is that you be HOLY, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a HOLY and honorable manner, without giving in to lustful desires, like the pagans (unbelievers) who don’t know God. No one should wrong his brother (fellow believer) in this matter or take advantage of him, because the Master (Yeshua) punishes all who do such things (1^st Thessalonians 4:3-6).

• For God did not call us to live an unclean life, but a HOLY one. Therefore, whoever rejects this teaching is rejecting not a man but God (the Father), indeed, the One who gives you the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), which is His (verse 7-8).

• Concerning LOVE for the brothers (fellow believers) we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to LOVE each other (refer to Yeshua our Messiah’s words in John 13:34-35); and you do LOVE all the brothers (fellow believers) …but we urge you, brothers, to do it even more (remember we LOVE others by applying Commandment 5 to10 by doing no harm to others, read Romans 13:8-10 and to LOVE fellow believers as Yeshua our Messiah loves us).

• Also make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own business (therefore not to gossip about other people) and to earn your living by your own efforts…Then your daily life will gain the respect of outsiders, and you will not be dependent on anyone (verses 11-12).

• For you are all people who belong to THE LIGHT, who belong to THE DAY. We don’t belong to the night or to darkness, so let’s not be asleep, like the rest are; on the contrary, let us STAY ALERT and sober…, putting on TRUST (faith) and LOVE as a breastplate and the HOPE of being DELIVERED as a helmet. For God (the Father) has not intended that we should experience His fury (His anger against sin), but that we should gain DELIVERANCE through our Master Yeshua the Messiah, who died on our behalf so that whether we are alive or dead, we may LIVE along with Him (1^st Thessalonians 5:5-9).

• Therefore, encourage each other, and build each other up (verse 11).

• We ask you brothers (fellow believers), to respect those who are working hard among you, those who are guiding you in the Master (Yeshua) and confronting (challenging, inspiring) you in order to help you change. Treat them with the highest regard and love because of the work they are doing. Live at PEACE among yourselves; but we urge you, brothers, to confront those who are lazy, your aim being to help them change, to encourage the timid (nervous, fearful), to assist the weak, and to be patient with everyone (verses 12-14).

• See that no one repays evil for evil; on the contrary try to DO GOOD to each other (fellow believers), indeed to everyone (all people) (verse 15).

• Always be joyful (verse 16).

• Pray regularly (frequently, often, repeatedly) (verse 17).

• In everything give thanks, for this is what God (the Father) wants from you who are UNITED with the Messiah Yeshua (verse18).

• Don’t quench (extinguish the fire of) the (Holy) Spirit; don’t despise inspired messages. But do TEST everything – hold onto what is GOOD but keep away from every form of evil (verses 19-22)”.

• And then Paul ends with these striking verses in 1^st Thessalonians 5:23-24 “May the God of shalom (peace) make you COMPLETELY HOLY – may your entire spirit, soul (heart, mind and free will) and body be kept BLAMELESS (innocent, righteous, guiltless) for the COMING of MASTER YESHUA the MESSIAH.”

In 1^st Timothy 4:12 Paul calls Timothy as a young person, not to allow anyone to look down on him, but to “set the believers an example in his speech, behavior, love, trust (faith) and PURITY”.

And in 1^st Timothy 5:22 Paul tells him: “Do not be hasty in granting s’mikhah to anyone (meaning laying hand on them and in so doing granting to them authority in service to God), and do not share in other people’s sins – keep yourself PURE”.

Paul instructs Titus in chapter 2 to tell:

• The older men to be serious (thoughtful, solemn), sensible (level-headed), self-controlled and sound in their trust (faith), love and perseverance (verse 2).

• Older woman are to be told to behave the way people leading a HOLY life should. They shouldn’t be slanderers (character assassins, backbiters) or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good, thus training the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and PURE, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands (remember this forms part of God the Father’s protective structure for women; men submit under Yeshua the Messiah, who submits to God the Father and woman therefore submits to their husbands giving them a triple layer of protection, read 1^st Corinthians 11:3) (Titus 2:3-5).

• Younger men are to be urged to be self-controlled; and Titus should set them an example by DOING GOOD, having integrity when he teach and being serious and ensuring everything he says be so wholesome that an opponent will be put to shame because he will not have anything bad to say about them.

• Slaves (servants/ employees) must be told to submit to their masters (or employers) in everything, to give satisfaction without talking back, or pilfering (stealing). On the contrary, they should demonstrate complete faithfulness always, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Deliverer more attractive (verses 9-11).

• For God’s GRACE, which brings DELIVERANCE, has appeared to ALL people. It teaches us to renounce (reject, refuse) godlessness (being unholy, unrighteous, impure) and worldly pleasures, and to live self-controlled, UPRIGHT, godly (holy, righteous) lives now, in this age; while continuing to expect the blessed fulfilment of our certain hope, which is the appearing of the Sh’kinah (the Divine presence, the manifest glory) of our great God (the Father) and the appearing of our Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. He gave Himself up on our behalf in order to free us from all violation of Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments) and PURIFY for Himself a people who would be His own, eager to DO GOOD (verses 11-14).

James 1:27 is an echo of Isaiah 1:15-17 where God said via the prophet: “Wash yourselves clean! Get your evil deeds out of My sight! Stop doing evil, learn to DO GOOD! Seek JUSTICE, relieve the oppressed (burdened, worried, troubled), defend orphans, plead for the widow (therefore defend and care for those unable to defend and care for themselves). James said: “The religious observance that God the Father considers PURE and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress (suffering, pain, sorrow) and to keep oneself from being contaminated (polluted, made unclean) by the world.”

John explains the meaning of PURITY in 1^st John 3:1-7 saying: “See what LOVE the Father has lavished on us in letting us be called God’s children! For that we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it does not know Him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now; and it has not yet been made clear what we will become. We do know that when He appears, we will be like Him; because we will see Him as He really is. And everyone who has this HOPE in Him CONTINUOUS PURIFYING himself, since GOD IS PURE. Everyone who keeps on sinning (therefore proceed with intentional sin) is violating Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments) – indeed, sin is violating Torah (other Bible version says sin is LAWLESSNESS, therefore living without obedience to God the Father’s LAWS). You know that He (Yeshua the Messiah) appeared in order to TAKE AWAY sins, and there is NO sin in Him. So no one who remains UNITED with Him continues sinning (deliberately); everyone who does continue sinning (deliberately) has neither seen Him, nor known Him. Children (of God the Father), don’t let anyone deceive you – it is the person who keeps on DOING what is RIGHT (in accordance to God’s Word and will) who is RGHTEOUS, just as God is RIGHTEOUS (blameless, upright, honorable). ”

It is therefore clear that PURITY is closely related to HOLINESS, UPRIGHTNESS and RIGHTEOSNESS.

The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary explains HOLINESS is ascribed to God, since He is APART from and ABOVE everything being in His infinite perfections and attributes. Believers are expected to be set apart for God, reflecting HIS PURITY and character in every aspect of our lives.  

We read in Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You YHVH, among the mighty? Who is like You, sublime (awe-inspiring, breath-taking) in HOLINESS, awesome in praises, working wonders?”

And Leviticus 11:44 & 45 says: “For I AM YHVH your God; therefore consecrate (sanctify, purify) yourselves and be HOLY; for I AM HOLY.” Also read Leviticus 19:2 and in Leviticus 20:7-8 & 26 we read: “Therefore consecrate yourselves – you people must be HOLY, because I AM YHVH your God. Observe My regulations, and OBEY them; I AM YHVH, who sets you apart to be HOLY…I have set you apart from the other peoples, so that you can BELONG to Me.”

In Romans 6:22-23 Paul says: “…now, freed from sin and enslaved to God (the Father), you do get the benefit – it consists in being made HOLY, SET APART for God (the Father), and its end result is ETERNAL LIFE. For what one earns from sin is DEATH; but ETERNAL LIFE is what one receives as a FREE GIFT from God (the Father), in UNION with Messiah Yeshua, our Master.

Peter says in 1^st Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed. As people who OBEY God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant (uninformed). On the contrary, following the HOLY ONE who called you, become HOLY yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Tanakh (the Old Testament) says, “You are to be HOLY because I AM HOLY.” (A quotation from Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2 and 20:7).

Holiness therefore requires:

1. Purification – being cleansed from sin, Paul explains it in 2^nd Corinthians 7:1 saying: “…let us PURIFY ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely HOLY, out of reverence for God (the Father).

2. Dedication (devotion to God) – offering ourselves fully to God. We are told in Romans 12:1 “I exhort you, therefore, brothers (fellow believers), in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and SET APART for God (the Father)…”

3. Separation – living distinct from worldly values. Romans 12:2 tells us: “Do not conform to the pattern of the world…” And 1^st John 2:15 says: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”

4. Reflecting God’s Holiness in our daily lives. We read in 3 John 1:11 “Dear friend, don’t imitate the bad, but the GOOD. Those who DO what is GOOD are from God;…”

RIGHTEOUSNESS means believing what God says and DOING it – living in right standing with God, reflecting His character and pursuing justice and holiness. Righteousness is closely linked to FAITH, if we do not believe, we will not act/ do. Since we always act in accordance to what we believe.

We know from 2^nd Corinthians 5:21, God the Father made Yeshua our Messiah a sin offering on our behalf, so that in UNION with Him we might fully share in God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS. And we read in 1^st Peter 2:24-25 “He (Yeshua our Messiah) Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for RIGHTEOUSNESS – by His wounds you were healed. For you used to be sheep gone astray, but now you have tuned to the Shepherd, who watches over you.”

And we are told in Ephesians 4:17-24 “…in UNION with the Master (Yeshua) I insist on it: do not live any longer as the pagans (unbelievers who do not know God) live, with their sterile (or senseless/ meaningless) ways of thinking. Their intelligence has been enshrouded in darkness, and they are estranged from the life of God, because of ignorance in them, which in turn comes from resisting God’s will. They have lost all feeling, so they have abandoned themselves to sensuality, practicing any kind of IMPURITY and always greedy for more. But this is not the lesson you learned from Messiah! If you really listened to Him and were instructed about Him, then you learned since what is in Yeshua is TRUTH, then, so far as your former life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature , because your old nature is thoroughly rotten by its deceptive desires; and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed , and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which express itself in the RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS that flow from the TRUTH .”

Therefore, it is clear, RIGHTEOUSNESS entails,

1. Personal Righteousness, having moral integrity and faith in God.
2. Righteousness through faith in Messiah Yeshua as a gift from God the Father.
3. Living a righteous life in alignment with His will and His Word.

UPRIGHTNESS means living with integrity, fearing God, turning away from evil and following His ways, living blamelessly, practicing righteousness and maintaining a PURE HEART

In Psalm 15:1-5 we read: “YHVH, who can rest in Your tent? Who can live on Your HOLY mountain? Those who live a BLAMELESS LIFE, who BEHAVE UPRIGHTLY, who SPEAKS TRUTH from their HEARTS and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others or seek to discredit neighbors (other people); who look with scorn (disapproval) on the vile (that which is morally bad or wicked), but honor those who fear YHVH; who hold to an oath, no matter the cost; who refuse usury (asking high rates of interest) when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent. Those who do these things never will be moved.”

Proverbs 11:3 says: “The integrity (honesty, truthfulness, faithfulness) of the UPRIGHT guides them,..”

Job is described in Job 1:1 as follows: “This man was blameless and UPRIGHT; he feared God and shunned (rejected) evil.”

Therefore, being UPRIGHT entails being:

1. Honest and truthful.
2. Fearing God and obeying Him by adhering to His Commandments and His ways and turning away from evil.
3. God watches over the UPRIGHT with divine favor and guidance.