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Selected Verse: Matthew 5:8 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Mt 5:8 |
Strong Concordance |
Blessed [3107] are the pure [2513] in heart [2588]: for [3754] they [846] shall see [3700] God [2316]. |
| |
King James |
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God--Here, too, we are on Old Testament ground. There the difference between outward and inward purity, and the acceptableness of the latter only in the sight of God, are everywhere taught. Nor is the "vision of God" strange to the Old Testament; and though it was an understood thing that this was not possible in the present life (Exo 33:20; and compare Job 19:26-27; Isa 6:5), yet spiritually it was known and felt to be the privilege of the saints even here (Gen 5:24; Gen 6:9; Gen 17:1; Gen 48:15; Psa 27:4; Psa 36:9; Psa 63:2; Isa 38:3, Isa 38:11, &c.). But oh, with what grand simplicity, brevity, and power is this great fundamental truth here expressed! And in what striking contrast would such teaching appear to that which was then current, in which exclusive attention was paid to ceremonial purification and external morality! This heart purity begins in a "heart sprinkled from an evil conscience," or a "conscience purged from dead works" (Heb 10:22; Heb 9:14; and see Act 15:9); and this also is taught in the Old Testament (Psa 32:1-2; compare Rom 4:5-8; Isa 6:5-8). The conscience thus purged--the heart thus sprinkled--there is light within wherewith to see God. "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with the other"--He with us and we with Him--"and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us"--us who have this fellowship, and who, without such continual cleansing, would soon lose it again--"from all sin" (Jo1 1:6-7). "Whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" (Jo1 3:6); "He that doeth evil hath not seen God" (Jo3 1:11). The inward vision thus clarified, and the whole inner man in sympathy with God, each looks upon the other with complacency and joy, and we are "changed into the same image from glory to glory." But the full and beatific vision of God is reserved for that time to which the Psalmist stretches his views--"As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psa 17:15). Then shall His servants serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads (Rev 22:3-4). They shall see Him as He is (Jo1 3:2). But, says the apostle, expressing the converse of this beatitude--"Follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Blessed are the pure in heart - That is, whose minds, motives, and principles are pure; who seek not only to have the external actions correct, but who desire to be holy in heart, and who are so. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.
They shall see God - There is a sense in which all will see God, Rev 1:7. That is, they will behold him as a Judge, not as a Friend. In this place it is spoken of as a special favor. So also in Rev 22:4, "And they shall see his face." To see the face of one, or to be in the presence of any one, were terms among the Jews expressive of great favor. It was regarded as a high honor to be in the presence of kings and princes, and to be permitted to see them, Pro 22:29, "He shall stand before kings." See also Kg2 25:19, "Those that stood in the king's presence;" in the Hebrew, those that saw the face of the king; that is, who were his favorites and friends. So here, to see God, means to be his friends and favorites, and to dwell with him in his kingdom. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The pure in heart - The sanctified: they who love God with all their hearts. They shall see God - In all things here; hereafter in glory. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Pure in heart - In opposition to the Pharisees, who affected outward purity, while their hearts were full of corruption and defilement. A principal part of the Jewish religion consisted in outward washings and cleansings: on this ground they expected to see God, to enjoy eternal glory: but Christ here shows that a purification of the heart, from all vile affections and desires, is essentially requisite in order to enter into the kingdom of God. He whose soul is not delivered from all sin, through the blood of the covenant, can have no Scriptural hope of ever being with God. There is a remarkable illustration of this passage, quoted by Mr. Wakefield from Origen, Contra Cels. lib. vi. "God has no body, and therefore is invisible: but men of contemplation can discern him with the heart and understanding. But A Defiled Heart Cannot See God: but He Must Be Pure Who Wishes to Enjoy a Proper View of a Pure Being."
Shall see God - This is a Hebraism, which signifies, possess God, enjoy his felicity: as seeing a thing, was used among the Hebrews for possessing it. See Psa 16:10. Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption, i.e. he shall not be corrupted. So Joh 3:3 : Except a man be born again, he cannot See the kingdom of God, i.e. he cannot enjoy it. So Joh 3:16. He that believeth not the Son, shall not See life, i. e shall not be put in possession of eternal glory. The Hindoo idolaters vainly boast of what the genuine followers of Christ actually enjoy - having the Divine favor witnessed to their souls by the Holy Spirit. The Hindoos pretend that some of their sages have been favored with a sight of their guardian deity. - See Ward's Customs.
Probably our Lord alludes to the advantages those had, who were legally pure, of entering into the sanctuary, into the presence of God, while those who had contracted any legal defilement were excluded from it. This also was obviously typical. |
14 Follow [1377] peace [1515] with [3326] all [3956] men, and [2532] holiness [38], without [5565] which [3739] no man [3762] shall see [3700] the Lord [2962]:
2 Beloved [27], now [3568] are we [2070] the sons [5043] of God [2316], and [2532] it doth [5319] not yet [3768] appear [5319] what [5101] we shall be [2071]: but [1161] we know [1492] that [3754], when [1437] he shall appear [5319], we shall be [2071] like [3664] him [846]; for [3754] we shall see [3700] him [846] as [2531] he is [2076].
3 And [2532] there shall be [2071] no [3756] more [2089] [3956] curse [2652]: but [2532] the throne [2362] of God [2316] and [2532] of the Lamb [721] shall be [2071] in [1722] it [846]; and [2532] his [846] servants [1401] shall serve [3000] him [846]:
4 And [2532] they shall see [3700] his [846] face [4383]; and [2532] his [846] name [3686] shall be in [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359].
15 As for me, I will behold [02372] thy face [06440] in righteousness [06664]: I shall be satisfied [07646], when I awake [06974], with thy likeness [08544].
11 Beloved [27], follow [3401] not [3361] that which is evil [2556], but [235] that which is good [18]. He that doeth good [15] is [2076] of [1537] God [2316]: but [1161] he that doeth evil [2554] hath [3708] not [3756] seen [3708] God [2316].
6 Whosoever [3956] abideth [3306] in [1722] him [846] sinneth [264] not [3756]: whosoever [3956] sinneth [264] hath [3708] not [3756] seen [3708] him [846], neither [3761] known [1097] him [846].
6 If [1437] we say [2036] that [3754] we have [2192] fellowship [2842] with [3326] him [846], and [2532] walk [4043] in [1722] darkness [4655], we lie [5574], and [2532] do [4160] not [3756] the truth [225]:
7 But [1161] if [1437] we walk [4043] in [1722] the light [5457], as [5613] he [846] is [2076] in [1722] the light [5457], we have [2192] fellowship [2842] one with another [3326] [240], and [2532] the blood [129] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] his [846] Son [5207] cleanseth [2511] us [2248] from [575] all [3956] sin [266].
5 Then said [0559] I, Woe [0188] is me! for I am undone [01820]; because I am a man [0376] of unclean [02931] lips [08193], and I dwell [03427] in the midst [08432] of a people [05971] of unclean [02931] lips [08193]: for mine eyes [05869] have seen [07200] the King [04428], the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
6 Then flew [05774] one [0259] of the seraphims [08314] unto me, having a live coal [07531] in his hand [03027], which he had taken [03947] with the tongs [04457] from off the altar [04196]:
7 And he laid [05060] it upon my mouth [06310], and said [0559], Lo, this hath touched [05060] thy lips [08193]; and thine iniquity [05771] is taken away [05493], and thy sin [02403] purged [03722].
8 Also I heard [08085] the voice [06963] of the Lord [0136], saying [0559], Whom shall I send [07971], and who will go [03212] for us? Then said [0559] I, Here am I; send [07971] me.
5 But [1161] to him that worketh [2038] not [3361], but [1161] believeth [4100] on [1909] him that justifieth [1344] the ungodly [765], his [846] faith [4102] is counted [3049] for [1519] righteousness [1343].
6 Even as [2509] David [1138] also [2532] describeth [3004] the blessedness [3108] of the man [444], unto whom [3739] God [2316] imputeth [3049] righteousness [1343] without [5565] works [2041],
7 Saying, Blessed [3107] are they whose [3739] iniquities [458] are forgiven [863], and [2532] whose [3739] sins [266] are covered [1943].
8 Blessed [3107] is the man [435] to whom [3739] the Lord [2962] will [3049] not [3364] impute [3049] sin [266].
1 A Psalm of David [01732], Maschil [04905]. Blessed [0835] is he whose transgression [06588] is forgiven [05375], whose sin [02401] is covered [03680].
2 Blessed [0835] is the man [0120] unto whom the LORD [03068] imputeth [02803] not iniquity [05771], and in whose spirit [07307] there is no guile [07423].
9 And [2532] put [1252] no [3762] difference [1252] between [3342] [5037] us [2257] and [2532] them [846], purifying [2511] their [846] hearts [2588] by faith [4102].
14 How much [4214] more [3123] shall [2511] the blood [129] of Christ [5547], who [3739] through [1223] the eternal [166] Spirit [4151] offered [4374] himself [1438] without spot [299] to God [2316], purge [2511] your [5216] conscience [4893] from [575] dead [3498] works [2041] to [1519] serve [3000] the living [2198] God [2316]?
22 Let us draw near [4334] with [3326] a true [228] heart [2588] in [1722] full assurance [4136] of faith [4102], having [4472] our hearts [2588] sprinkled [4472] from [575] an evil [4190] conscience [4893], and [2532] our bodies [4983] washed [3068] with pure [2513] water [5204].
11 I said [0559], I shall not see [07200] the LORD [03050], even the LORD [03050], in the land [0776] of the living [02416]: I shall behold [05027] man [0120] no more with the inhabitants [03427] of the world [02309].
3 And said [0559], Remember [02142] now, O LORD [03068], I beseech [0577] thee, how I have walked [01980] before [06440] thee in truth [0571] and with a perfect [08003] heart [03820], and have done [06213] that which is good [02896] in thy sight [05869]. And Hezekiah [02396] wept [01058] [01065] sore [01419].
2 To see [07200] thy power [05797] and thy glory [03519], so as I have seen [02372] thee in the sanctuary [06944].
9 For with thee is the fountain [04726] of life [02416]: in thy light [0216] shall we see [07200] light [0216].
4 One [0259] thing have I desired [07592] of the LORD [03068], that will I seek [01245] after; that I may dwell [03427] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068] all the days [03117] of my life [02416], to behold [02372] the beauty [05278] of the LORD [03068], and to enquire [01239] in his temple [01964].
15 And he blessed [01288] Joseph [03130], and said [0559], God [0430], before [06440] whom my fathers [01] Abraham [085] and Isaac [03327] did walk [01980], the God [0430] which fed [07462] me all my life long [05750] unto this day [03117],
1 And when Abram [087] was ninety [08673] [08141] years [08141] old [01121] and nine [08672], the LORD [03068] appeared [07200] to Abram [087], and said [0559] unto him, I am the Almighty [07706] God [0410]; walk [01980] before me [06440], and be thou perfect [08549].
9 These are the generations [08435] of Noah [05146]: Noah [05146] was a just [06662] man [0376] and perfect [08549] in his generations [01755], and Noah [05146] walked [01980] with God [0430].
24 And Enoch [02585] walked [01980] with God [0430]: and he was not; for God [0430] took [03947] him.
5 Then said [0559] I, Woe [0188] is me! for I am undone [01820]; because I am a man [0376] of unclean [02931] lips [08193], and I dwell [03427] in the midst [08432] of a people [05971] of unclean [02931] lips [08193]: for mine eyes [05869] have seen [07200] the King [04428], the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
26 And though after [0310] my skin [05785] worms destroy [05362] this body, yet in my flesh [01320] shall I see [02372] God [0433]:
27 Whom I shall see [02372] for myself, and mine eyes [05869] shall behold [07200], and not another [02114]; though my reins [03629] be consumed [03615] within [02436] me.
20 And he said [0559], Thou canst [03201] not see [07200] my face [06440]: for there shall no man [0120] see [07200] me, and live [02425].
19 And out of the city [05892] he took [03947] an [0259] officer [05631] that was set [06496] over the men [0582] of war [04421], and five [02568] men [0582] of them that were [07200] in the king's [04428] presence [06440], which were found [04672] in the city [05892], and the principal [08269] scribe [05608] of the host [06635], which mustered [06633] the people [05971] of the land [0776], and threescore [08346] men [0376] of the people [05971] of the land [0776] that were found [04672] in the city [05892]:
29 Seest [02372] thou a man [0376] diligent [04106] in his business [04399]? he shall stand [03320] before [06440] kings [04428]; he shall not stand [03320] before [06440] mean [02823] men.
4 And [2532] they shall see [3700] his [846] face [4383]; and [2532] his [846] name [3686] shall be in [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359].
7 Behold [2400], he cometh [2064] with [3326] clouds [3507]; and [2532] every [3956] eye [3788] shall see [3700] him [846], and [2532] they also which [3748] pierced [1574] him [846]: and [2532] all [3956] kindreds [5443] of the earth [1093] shall wail [2875] because [1909] of him [846]. Even so [3483], Amen [281].
16 For [1063] God [2316] so [3779] loved [25] the world [2889], that [5620] he gave [1325] his [846] only begotten [3439] Son [5207], that [2443] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] in [1519] him [846] should [622] not [3361] perish [622], but [235] have [2192] everlasting [166] life [2222].
3 Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto thee [4671], Except [3362] a man [5100] be born [1080] again [509], he cannot [1410] [3756] see [1492] the kingdom [932] of God [2316].
10 For thou wilt not leave [05800] my soul [05315] in hell [07585]; neither wilt thou suffer [05414] thine Holy One [02623] to see [07200] corruption [07845].