A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW     

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART  

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

King David committed a grievous sin of adultery with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah. He not only had sexual intercourse with her but also used his power as king to ensure that Uriah would be killed in the heat of battle. (You can read the entire account of David’s sin in 2 Samuel 12:1-14)  

David thought he had covered up his sins. However, God sent the Prophet Nathan to confront him about his sin. Nathan told a story to David about a rich man who, rather than feed his guests a lamb from his flocks, took a lamb from a poor man. Samuel wrote, “David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:5-7) David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13) 

David penned a penitential Psalm, Psalm 51, in which He poured out his heart in deep remorse and confession of his sins against Bathsheba and Uriah. He pleaded for God’s mercy and for God to remove his sin from him. He pleaded with God to cleanse him, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Verse 7) He begged God to “create in him a pure heart.” (V. 10) David continued, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Verse 17)   

You are blessed when you have a pure heart. When is your heart pure? It is pure when you recognize your sins, confess them to God, repent of them and beg Him to forgive you for Jesus’ sake. Whether your sins are like those committed by David or sins that are not nearly as gross; Jesus died for all of them and rose again on Easter so when you confess your sins and repent of them you have God’s assurance, He will remove them as far as “the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) “He will remember your sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) He will give a “pure heart.” 

Prayer: Gracious Father, hear me when I penitently come before you to confess my sins and grant me your forgiveness and a pure heart for Jesus’ sake in whose Name I pray.” Amen. 

When in the hour of deepest need   
We know not where to look for aid;   
When days and nights of anxious thought  
No help or counsel yet have brought, 

Then is our comfort this alone   
That we may meet before Your throne;  
To You, O faithful God, we cry  
For rescue in our misery. 

For You have promised, Lord, to heed  
Your children’s cries intime of need  
Through Him whose name alone is great,  
Our Savior and our advocate. 

And so we come, O God, today  
And all our woes before You lay;  
For sorely tried, cast down, we stand,  
Perplexed by fears on ev’ry hand. 

O From our sins, Lord, turn Your face;  
Absolve us through Your boundless grace.  
Be with us in our anguish still;  
Free us at last from ev’ry ill. 

So we with all our hearts each day  
To You our glad thanksgiving pay,  
Then walk obedient to Your Word,  
And now and ever praise You, Lord.  (LSB 615)