Matthew 5:8 - Exposition

The pure in heart . Our Lord naturally passes in thought from the sixth to the seventh commandment (cf. Matthew 5:21 , Matthew 5:27 ), finding the basis of his phraseology in Psalms 24:3 , Psalms 24:4 , "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?… He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ( LXX . ἀθῶος χερσὶν καὶ καθαρὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ ) (cf. also Psalms 72:1 ). καθαρός (besides speaking of mere physical cleanness, Psalms 27:1-14 :59) specially refers to freedom from pollution, judged by God's standard of what pollution is, whether it be a matter of ceremonial enactment or of ethical relation ( John 13:10 , John 13:11 ; John 15:3 ); cf. Origen.'Hem. in Joh.,' 73:2 (Meyer), "Every sin soils the soul ( πᾶσα ἁμαρτία ῥύπον ἐντίθησι τῇ ψυχῇ )". In heart. The seat of the affections ( Matthew 6:21 ; Matthew 22:37 ) and the understanding ( Matthew 13:15 ), also the central spring of all human words and actions ( Matthew 15:19 ); cf. καθαραα ( 1 Timothy 1:5 ; 2 Timothy 2:22 ), which implies something deeper than καθαραδησις ( 1 Timothy 3:9 ; 2 Timothy 1:3 ). Shall see God . Not in his courts ( Psalms 24:1-10 .) on Mount Moriah, but above; and in one complete vision fully grasped ( ὄψονται ). The thought of present spiritual sight of God, though, perhaps, hardly to be excluded (contrast Weiss, 'Matthausev.'), is at least swallowed up in the thought of the full and final revelation. Those who are pure in heart, and care not for such sights as lead men into sin, are unconsciously preparing themselves for the great spiritual sight—the beatific vision ( Revelation 22:4 ; cf. 1 John 3:2 ). In Hebrews 12:14 holiness ( ἁγιασμός ) is an indispensable quality for such a vision of "the Lord."