Happy are the Pure Hearted (Matthew 5:8)

1. Religion from a Pure Heart

Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart. Even a cursory look at Jesus' confrontations with the Pharisees would show that they focused on an outward religion and not worship of God from the heart. What are our inner thoughts and motives? Are our actions and the thoughts of our hearts consistent or do we put on an act? Are our consciences clear?

A lot of religious mumbo jumbo can be performed with changing our hearts. How do we make sure that our religion is not in vain, but of the heart? Jesus gave a few clues later in the Sermon on the Mount. He said that we ought to perform religious acts in secret and not with the motive of showing off. A prayer in a church setting is not meant to be a performance. Praying disturbingly loud in tongues to just show off is not something that pleases God. Putting on spiritual airs in a flowery prayer to impress human beings is not the way to talk to God. Jesus said to pray in private, not for an outward show like the religious leaders of that day.

2. Charity from a Pure Heart

How do we make sure that our charitable giving is not just a pointless dog and pony show? The Pharisees blew a trumpet when they wanted people to notice them. The same seems to happen when some large corporations give to charity today. They see it as an opportunity to blow their corporate advertising trumpet. We have also all seen TV shows where public personalities detail their giving at great length to the applause of a flattering, starry-eyed audience. Jesus said that our charitable giving ought to be in secret. Far better to have given a small gift to a charity without earthly fanfare, than millions for the applause and publicity. The greater happiness of the secret giver is assured by heaven. The hype given a publicity seeking giver is all the benefit they will get.

Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart. Sincerity of heart does not produce an outward and pretentious show of charity. The new covenant or new testament is written in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33). It is not an outward religion of empty philanthropy and a showy charade. The acclaim of human beings because of trumpeted charitable giving are a temporary and hollow reward. Jesus promises true and enduring happiness to those who are motivated by a pure heart. They will see God.