In a world where immoral principles are universally promoted, the characteristic of purity cannot be overvalued.  Today, from a moral standpoint, what is right is called wrong, and what is wrong is called right.  Isaiah warned about a world like this.

Isaiah 5:20 (ESV)
²⁰  Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

In this kind of world, purity stands out.  As Christians, our light shines brightest when we are living according to the moral principles of God’s Word with pure hearts.

Matthew 5:8 (ESV)
⁸  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

The Jews were well acquainted with the idea of purity.  The law of Moses taught them to be physically pure.  They meticulously washed themselves daily before each meal, even to the point where the Pharisees condemned others who would eat without washing their hands (Matthew 15:2).  Jesus, however, says that there is another more important purity, that is, purity of the heart.

What Did Jesus Mean by the Heart?

Some think the Biblical heart is the organ that pumps blood through our bodies.  Others think it is a mysterious inner emotion.  However, the Bible says that it is with the heart that we think (Matthew 9:4), question (Mark 2:6), understand (Matthew 13:15), and believe (Romans 10:10).  So, Jesus is referring to the mental or intellectual part of our being, that is, our minds.  If we have the character of a Christian, we are pure-minded because the condition of our hearts determines who we really are.  The wise man said, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

What Did Jesus Mean by Pure?

The term “pure” comes from the Greek word katharos, referring to something that is first clean, and then clear (Strong).  We get the word catharsis from it.   Catharsis is a term used in psychology meaning a cleansing of the mind or emotions. In classical Greek, the word was most often used to describe metals that had been refined in the fire until they were free from all impurities.  From that standpoint, something that is pure is unmixed.  If you told me that you had a necklace that was pure gold, you would be telling me that there are no elements in that necklace except gold.  It is pure, unmixed, or unadulterated.

To be pure in heart is to have a mind that is clean from the immoral pollutions of this world (Philippians 4:8), and is single in nature, focusing primarily on the spiritual things of God (Matthew 6:19-24; Colossians 3:1-4).  Pure hearts can only lead to one thing—a pure life, a  life that all true Christians share in common.

James 1:27 (ESV)
²⁷  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.   

As you wind down for the night, think about these things