Blessed Are The Pure In Heart Jeremy Bell Matthew 5:8 Questions for Discussion/Application: *Read this note from the ESV Study Bible regarding the passage: "Matt. 5:8 The pure in heart are those whose pursuit of purity and uprightness affects every area of life. they shall see God. Note the ultimate fulfillment in Rev. 22:4; cf. note on John 1:18. In contrast to Jewish traditions that overemphasized external ritual purity, Jesus taught that purity of heart was most important (cf. note on Matt. 5:28)." *God calls us to rest in our justification, in our right standing with God. He also calls us simultaneously to pursue growth in sanctification, godliness and purity of heart. How practically do we do both – rest in Christ’s righteousness and pursue holiness? *No one is fully pure in heart but Jesus. In light of this, what role does “preaching the gospel to ourselves” have to play in our pursuit of sanctification, and increasing godliness/purity of heart? *Jeremy said “To be pure in heart means to have an undivided heart….purity of heart means singleness of purpose.” He went on to say, “The Lord doesn’t want part of your heart, but all of it — your whole heart.” In what ways can we struggle as believers with divided hearts? What “idols”, what types of things can tempt and draw our hearts away from Christ? *Consider – a love of comfort and ease, the love of money, an inordinate desire for the approval of others, inordinate desires for other things, etc… In what one or two ways do you think God by His Spirit is calling you to apply this beatitude to your own life? *When believers pursue growth in sanctification and take the biblical call to holiness seriously, how does that impact our testimony and witness to the lost? *“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Matthew 5:8 True, authentic, genuine Christians, evidence purity of heart in their lives. They are by no means perfectly pure. They do however evidence a gradually growing godliness and purity of heart. And this promise is for them. “They shall see God.” How does this promise from our Lord encourage us, as we continue to seek to grow as Christians — putting off sin, and putting on godly heart attitudes and behavior in the power of the Spirit. *Consider taking time to pray, asking God to help us to grow daily in our pursuit of godliness and purity of heart.