Malcolm Cox

Introduction What would it be like to preach and teach through the filter of the beatitudes? What would the impact be on us as speakers and our congregations as listeners? Today, we will look at the sixth beatitude: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NIV11) Mercy is connected to purity.  Showing mercy needs a pure heart because it must be done altruistically.  Although the merciful will be shown mercy, the reward is not something that a merciful person thinks about.   The Meaning in the context of the Gospel   Jesus was upset with the Pharisees for not having a pure heart (Lk 11:39, Matt 23:25-28).  Why bother with keeping a pure heart?  Because we will be like our Lord, who is pure of heart, in the next life (1 John 3:2-3).  A Christian strives to be as much like his or her Lord because he is our model and hope.  What can this mean?  Perhaps it refers to keeping a spiritually narrow focus in life (Psalm 86:11).  Rather than a moral purity perhaps it refers more to a