A13. Being Pure in Heart. [Make a Comment]
We are to pursue being pure in heart.
This precept is derived from His Word (blessed be He):
Key Scriptures
Psalm 51:12(10)
Create in me a clean heart, God; renew in me a resolute spirit.
Philippians 4:8
In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble,
righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something
praiseworthy.
1 Timothy 1:5
The purpose of this order is to promote love from a clean heart, from a
good conscience and from sincere trust.
Supportive Scriptures
Psalm 24:4-5
Those with clean hands and pure hearts, who don't make vanities the
purpose of their lives or swear oaths just to deceive. They will receive a
blessing from ADONAI and justice from God, who saves them.
Psalm 73:1
How good God is to Isra'el, to those who are pure in heart!
Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your
word.
Proverbs 16:2
All a mans ways are pure in his own view
(but ADONAI weighs the spirit.')
Proverbs 21:8
A criminals conduct is crooked
(but the work of the pure is right.')
Matthew 5:8
How blessed are the pure in heart! for they will see God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify
ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive
to be completely holy, out of reverence for God.
Philippians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may more and more overflow in fullness
of knowledge and depth of discernment, so that you will be able to determine
what is best and thus be pure and without blame for the Day of the Messiah
...
1 Timothy 5:22
Do not be hasty in granting s'mikhah to anyone, and do not share in
other people's sins - keep yourself pure.
2 Timothy 2:22
So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord
from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace.
Titus 1:15
To all who are themselves pure, everything is pure. But to those who are
defiled and without trust, nothing is pure- even their minds and
consciences have been defiled.
Hebrews 10:22
Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the
full assurance that comes from trusting - with our hearts sprinkled clean
from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 John 3:3
And everyone who has this hope in him continues purifying himself, since
God is pure.
Commentary
God spoke to Israel through Jeremiah and promised them:
I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:32b; Hebrews 8:10)
Later, God spoke through Ezekiel and said:
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take
the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
This new heart with the Torah embedded in it was to be a clean heart with a new Spirit, and it came to fruition as part of the New Covenant and man's "new birth" in Yeshua:
John 3:3
"Yes, indeed," Yeshua answered him, "I tell you that unless a person is
born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
John 3:6
What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is
spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:1
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation -
the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!
1 Peter 1:23
You have been born again not from some seed that will decay, but from one
that cannot decay, through the living Word of God that lasts forever.
Classical Commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the Jewish classical commentators.
NCLA: JMm JFm KMm KFm GMm GFm