ARE THE PURE IN HEART

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:1-12 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1 - Night, With Ebon Pinion 1. Night, with ebon pinion, Brooded over the vale; All around was silent, Save the night-wind's wail, When Christ, the Man of Sorrows, In tears and sweat and blood, Prostrate in the garden, Raised His voice to God. Words: Love H. Jameson Music: Joseph P. Powell © 2007 The Paperless Hymnal®

1 - Night, With Ebon Pinion © 2007 The Paperless Hymnal®

Night that was as dark as the wing of a black bird covered the Kedron Valley; It was quiet except for the howling of the wind, shedding tears and sweating so profusely that the drops of sweat were like drops of blood, laid face-down in the garden of Gethsemane and cried out to God in prayer.

2 - Night, With Ebon Pinion 2. Smitten for offenses Which were not His own, He, for our transgressions, Had to weep alone; No friend with words to comfort, Nor hand to help was there, When the Meek and Lowly Humbly bowed in prayer. Words: Love H. Jameson Music: Joseph P. Powell © 2007 The Paperless Hymnal®

2 - Night, With Ebon Pinion © 2007 The Paperless Hymnal®

Punished for crimes that He did not commit, He had to weep alone because of our sins. Since the disciples were sleeping, He had no friends there to say comforting words to Him nor to help Him, When Jesus, submitting to the Father with humility, prayed to Him.

3 - Night, With Ebon Pinion 3. "Abba, Father, Father, If indeed it may, Let this cup of anguish Pass from Me, I pray; Yet, if it must be suffered, By Me, Thine only Son, Abba, Father, Father, Let Thy will be done." Words: Love H. Jameson Music: Joseph P. Powell © 2007 The Paperless Hymnal®

3 - Night, With Ebon Pinion © 2007 The Paperless Hymnal®

Dear and respected Father, if it is possible, Allow Me to avoid this terrible suffering I am about to go through. But, if it is necessary that I go through this suffering, even though I am Your only Son, My dear respected Father, let Your will be done!

It was at the garden scene that Jesus now has a choice It was at the garden scene that Jesus now has a choice. Will Jesus choose to participate in God’s missional plan, which requires his own death, or not? • Jesus had to make the same decision that we are faced with as God’s children, that is to participate in God’s mission or our own mission. • Will Jesus choose God’s will or his own? • The Gospels portray this agony as an outpouring of sweat that was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Hebrews 5:7-10 - 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.   Mathew 26:42 - “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

Blessed are the Pure in Heart, Jesus teaches us that God’s will is always greater than our will. It is only then will we find ourselves truly being pure in heart.   Blessed are the Pure in Heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8)

Being Pure in Heart is not so much about performance as it is acceptance. • Pureness of heart is not a virtue that we use to instruct how people need to get their lives straightened out morally. • It is not somehow trying to find a clean part of my nature that isn’t infected with sinfulness. • It is not if I try hard enough to be good, then I will see God. • It is not trying to find that pure place in your heart that is without sin, but rather it is me learning to place my heart in God’s righteousness and His vision for the Kingdom.

The Pure in Heart are those people who have trained their eyes to see this world the way God sees it. • The Pure in Heart have their hearts set on God’s vision, not their own. Purity in heart is not obtained by actions. • We are given righteousness when we make the necessary choice to do God’s will instead of our own.

Jesus promises us here that it is the Pure in Heart that are truly blessed because they are the ones who are able to see God at work.   May we strive every day to pursue the cleansing process that needs to take place in our life so that we too may be considered pure in heart.

Psalm 24:1-10 1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5 They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

Psalm 24:1-10 7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.

ARE THE PURE IN HEART