What does Jesus mean by “pure in heart”?

It goes beyond one’s perfection in performance to that of one’s purity in purpose. For the Christian, the thing that we should strive for above all else is holiness; to remain righteous before God and men. In our pursuit of holiness, we must abstain from even the appearance of evil. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:22.) Having and keeping a pure heart requires us to abide in Christ and to walk in His light. (See John 15:5 and 1 John 1:7.)

How do we do that? We begin through loving obedience to His Word. (See John 14:21.) We do this by confessing our sins and turning from them. (See 1 John 1:9.) Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This is not only a future promise of what is to come, but it is also a reality we experience now.

In John 14:21, Jesus says, “and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” To manifest means to reveal. The more we seek to be pure in heart, the more Jesus reveals Himself to us and in us and through us. The pure in heart begin to see Scripture more brilliantly, to see people more purposefully, and to see opportunities to serve Him more expectantly. Blessed are the pure in heart!