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Tuesday, 9 August 2022
Matthew 5:8 Part 4 of 5

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

Take a moment with me. Let's contemplate what it means to be "pure in heart." One of the nuances of the word for "pure" connotes clear and transparent. We pray in agreement with King David ... Psalm 51:12(10) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Capital One wants to know, "What's in your wallet?" God wants to know, "What's in your heart?"

Are our hearts full of the junk of this world? How do we get rid of all of that "stuff?" We wash it away. Washing in Scriptural terms is baptism. Ephesians 5 describes this special kind of baptism.

Rabbi Trail: You do know there are many "baptisms" in Scripture. Water baptism is usually thought of first, but there are others (baptism by fire, baptism in the Spirit, baptism unto Moses, baptism of His sufferings, to name a few).

Yeshua is described as preparing His Bride for marriage with a special washing/immersion (baptism). Ephesians 5:26 to make her (His Bride) holy, having cleansed her by immersion (washing) in the word. That's right, as we pour the Word of God into our hearts, the ungodliness of this world is washed out. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Moreover; remember this, we wouldn't even know what sin is, except the Word of God tells us. Romans 7:7a What shall we say then? Is the Torah sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Torah.

As I'm writing, and contemplating what it means to have a clean heart, this question comes to mind. Is there a "yes" in our hearts to God? Do we say, "Yes" when God calls? For perspective, let's examine some alternatives. We might think the opposite of "yes" is "no," but it isn't.

Anything other than "yes" is the opposite of "yes." "Why should I," is one such opposite answer. My children used to say to each other, "You're not the boss of me." Do we really want to be found answering God with those words when He calls? God is not our boss, but He is a loving Father, Who wants the best for His children.

Rabbi Trail: The world has a distorted view of what it means to be a "father." Yeshua began the Lord's prayer by addressing, "Our Father ..." I've heard it said that "father" means "decider." Is there someone else you would like deciding the issues of your life?

Is there a better father? One reason (there are many) that God is the perfect Father, is that He knows the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: For I am God - there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me - declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, "My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please."

He created each of us for His divine purpose. There is a great blessing for those who find it. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have in mind for you, declares Adonai, plans for shalom and not calamity - to give you a future and a hope.

In closing this today, I want to paraphrase Matthew 5:8. Shout for joy all you who have clean hearts, for you shall eternally experience God.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 11:14am Comment Comments: 0