It follows rightly the before-mentioned graces, because if they be not there, a clean heart is not created in a man. Glossa Ordinaria: Purity of heart comes properly in the sixth place, because on the sixth day man was created in the image of God, which image was shrouded by sin, but is formed anew in pure hearts by grace. Commentary from the Church Fathers Īmbrose: The merciful loses the benefit of his mercy, unless he shows it from a pure heart for if he seeks to have whereof to boast, he loses the fruit of his deeds the next that follows therefore is, Blessed are the pure in heart. Davies and Allison read a pure heart as being one that is simple and undivided in allegiance.

At the time the heart was literally seen as the seat of emotion and the soul, though today the verse is read metaphorically. The word purity is not believed to refer to one who was ritually cleansed, but rather to internal spiritual purity as noted by the 'in heart' addition. The Greek word makarios cannot adequately be rendered as 'blessed' nor 'happy', as it is rather 'a term of congratulation and recommendation', that can also mean 'satisfied' (as in Psalm 1:1). 4Q525 2 2 Enoch 52:1–14) and the use of third person plural address (cf. Other ancient literature can attest the grouping together of several beatitudes (cf. The form – 'blessed' (Greek: makarios) + subject + 'that' ( hoti) + cause – can be found in Genesis 30:13 (also in Tobit 13:16), whereas the eschatological orientation is similar to Daniel 12:12 (also 1 Enoch 58:2–3). Hill speculates that the verse could actually be a mistranslation of Isaiah 61:1, and should have read 'only the contrite will see God'. Since this verse is so similar to the Psalm some believe it was the one incorrectly integrated into the Sermon on the Mount. A number of scholars have been certain that there were originally seven Beatitudes, as seven was a holy number. This verse is generally believed to have been taken from Psalm 24:3–5 either by Jesus or the author of Matthew who was adding this verse that is not found in Luke.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:īlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:īlessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Quotes about pure hearts in the bible