Beholding God

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 (NRSV)

“To see God”—what a staggering promise. In a world clouded by distraction, distortion, and doubt, the idea of beholding God feels almost too bold to believe. And yet, Jesus speaks it plainly in the Beatitudes: those who are pure in heart will behold God—not necessarily with physical eyes, but with the eyes of the soul.

But how do we become pure in heart? It is not something we achieve by effort alone, though living morally, practicing spiritual discipline, and remaining committed to God are certainly part of the journey. The true answer, however, comes from God. To behold God with the heart, we must be pure of heart, and to be pure, we must first accept His grace. Purity is not a badge we earn; it is a gift we receive.

The Greek word for “pure” (katharos) evokes more than moral cleanliness—it suggests a heart that is undivided, sincere, and wholly devoted. It’s not about perfection, but about integrity. A pure heart is one that echoes the prayer of David, “Give me an undivided heart to revere your name” (Psalm 86:11).

Yet who can claim such purity? David asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts” (Psalm 24:3-4). Left to ourselves, we fall short. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus does not leave us to ourselves.

In Christ, we are given new hearts. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He purifies us—not just outwardly, but inwardly. As Titus 3:5 reminds us, “He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” This is grace: God does for us what we could never do for ourselves. God purifies us so that we may behold Him with the heart.

To accept His grace is to open our hearts to transformation. It is to allow the Spirit to reorder our loves, to cleanse our motives, and to center our lives on Christ. And as our hearts are made pure, not by striving, but by surrender, we begin to behold God not just in the future, but even now. We perceive His presence in the face of Christ, in the beauty of creation, in the fellowship of believers, and the quiet moments of prayer.

Beholding God with the heart begins not with striving, but with surrender. Ask yourself:

• Where is my heart divided?

• What lesser loves compete for my attention and affection?

• Am I trying to earn purity, or am I receiving it as a gift of grace?

Take time today to sit in stillness before God. Invite the Spirit to search your heart—not to condemn, but to cleanse. Let go of the need to prove yourself, and instead, rest in the truth that Christ has already made a way for you to know the Father intimately.

Merciful God, You promise that the pure in heart will behold You. Cleanse our hearts by Your grace. Renew us by Your Spirit. Fix our eyes on Christ, that we may know You more fully and love You more deeply. In your precious name we pray. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim

Source for the Greek word “katharos”:

Bible Hub. (n.d.). Strong’s Greek: 2513. katharos – clean, pure, clear. https://biblehub.com/greek/2513.htm