8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
Watching so many of those who claim to be spiritual leaders fall from grace leaves my heart searching for answers. This week, the topic of legalism or Pharisaism raised quite a few questions. What is the difference between legalism and sanctification? When is holiness an act, and when are its motives pure?
Over the years, legalism has been defined as “works as a means to salvation.” However, legalism has implications after salvation, as well. Matthew 5:8 addresses those implications. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the motives that drove the actions of those who claimed to speak for God. Matthew 6 identified three specific examples of hypocrisy practiced by the spiritual leaders of His day, and He also rebuked their actions throughout Matthew 23. The hypocrite’s motive was to be seen by men, according to Matthew 6 and 23:5. Covetousness was an underlying motive, as well, according to Luke 16:14.
The summary of these passages can be found in Matthew 6:24.
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
However, there is an opposing ditch that Matthew 5:8 also recognizes. Pure motives lead to right actions. In other words, a pure heart will not lead to doing whatever someone pleases. The treasure that the pure in heart desire is to see God. God becomes the culmination of the believer’s motives, purpose, hope, actions, and desires. What God knows about them is far more important than what their peers think of them. Rules do not drive the pure in heart. Relationship with God fuels every decision they make out of their love for Him.
This has helped me search out my own heart for why I do what I do. Many things I used to do out of fear of what other believers might think or say. At one time, even church attendance became more about not getting a phone call than about the joy of worshipping my God. However, holding to Biblical standards is not wrong. What is wrong is holding to Biblical standards to gain prestige, privilege, or the admiration of others, or to use them to place myself or others on a pedestal. Biblical standards must also be recognized not as a path to God’s favor, but rather as the outcome of love for Him.
Hypocrisy is selfish. Pure hearts love like Jesus. Pure motives offer the balance of holiness and love for others. Relationship with God protects the believer from the emptiness of hypocrisy and the destruction of lawlessness. He is the treasure of the Pure in Heart.
I hope you are enjoying these lessons. I look forward to hearing any comments you may have! Below, you will find the download for the study questions for this week, and the video with answers from last week’s study. Have a blessed rest of the week!
His Song in the Night 