Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

What does it mean to be "pure in heart"?

I pondered this for a long time. It doesn't mean being "pure"...because why add the "in heart". But does that "in heart" mean you keep your heart pure? Or that you're trying to be pure? (Much like old people can be "young at heart", but they are not physically young?) Or does it mean having a higher standard of purity...not just outward doing what is right, but actually meaning it and having that come from your heart? What exactly does it mean?

We've all heard this verse many times, and we all apparently just take it for granted that we know what the words "pure in heart" mean and how to apply them. But as I tried to think of something to write, I found that I really don't know what the phrase means. I can intuitively take a guess at what it means, and that's probably pretty close to the mark. I looked it up in other translations, and all the major translations (not paraphrases) use the exact same phrase, so apparently it's supposed to be self-explanatory.

Well...it is. I can tell you that "pure in heart" means just what it says...and we ought to just know what it means. But I certainly can't explain it to anyone else...so while it may be self-explanatory...it is not easily explained.

Anyone care to take a stab at defining the meaning...or even making a reasonable commentary on the subject? I find myself at a loss and invite other readers of the blog to have a try at today's verse. Especially if you have some extra knowledge or schooling that might help. (For example, you can go read it in the Greek and translate it to find out what the phrase means in the original.)

I dislike saying "I don't know..." because I am (but should try not to be) a know-it-all by nature. That's why I've been dragging my feet and not posting...I was trying to think of what to say. But on this one, I have to just say I don't know.