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Greek word for purity

Katharos - Greek word for

purity is used in many ways.

It is used of clean clothes in
contrast to soiled ones, pure
water in contrast with
adulterated water, of silver
and gold which have no alloy in
them, of an army which has
been cleansed of disloyal
soldiers, of blood which is
absolutely pure.
The word Catharsis
(emotional release or purging)
is also derived from Katharos.

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Jews understanding of purity was one

that was external only

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The Jews were

meticulous about
external purity. They
were obsessed with
external purity that they
failed to realize the need
of internal purity.
On the day of Atonement
for example, the High
Priest would have washed
his whole body in clean
water 5 times and his
hands and feet 10 times.
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External purity prized over internal

purity

The Jews taught that so

long as a man observed the
outward rituals correctly,
he was pure in spite of his
thoughts of arrogance, hate
and other unclean thoughts.

A man might be an arrogant

sinner and adulterer but if
he was a descendant of
Aaron, he was a priest.

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Jesus teaching on purity

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Matthew 15:19 - Jesus

stressed the purity of
heart.

For out of your heart,

come evil thoughts,
murder, adultery, sexual
immorality, theft, false
testimony, slander
Jesus is saying that
Blessed are those whose
thoughts and motives are
absolutely unmixed and
pure.

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The most demanding of the Beatitude

This is truly the most

demanding of all the
Beatitudes.

It necessitates the strictest

and the most honest selfexamination.

Even an action which looks

generous and sacrificial may
have in it some ulterior
motive, some residue of selfdisplay and pride which we
are scarcely aware of.

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A promise and a warning at the same time

The promise of the

Beatitude is that the man
who is pure in heart will
see God.
Even within the promise is
a warning and that is,
what we see depends not
only on what is present
before our eyes but what
is in our minds and hearts
(whether pure or impure).
Moral character, the state of mans mind and his
knowledge makes a difference in what he sees.
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You see things based on what you know.

The man who knows
nothing about botany
will see by the wayside
a tangle of weeds
which are insignificant
to him.
The botanist however
delights in seeing from
this tangle a rare
weed. His knowledge
of botany enables him
to see something that
others do not see.

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Similarly those who do not

have the knowledge of God,
do not get to see God.
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Seeing God - our greatest reward

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The greatest privilege that

a servant could have was to
be able to stand in the
presence of the king,
constantly to see his face
and to hear his wisdom.

1 Kings 10:18 - Queen

Sheba made this remark
about Solomons servants,
Happy are your servants
who stand continually
before you and hear your
wisdom.

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The need to purify ourselves

1 John 3:3 - Everyone

who has hope in him
(Jesus) purifies
himself, just as He is
pure.
A Christian purifies
himself now because
pure is what he will
ultimately be.
His present efforts
are consistent with his
future hope.
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Purity enables us to see God

The man whose heart has
been cleansed in Jesus,
whose motives, thoughts
and desires are absolutely
unmixed will be given the
privilege to see God.
But to see God is not
literally to see God with
the physical eyes as that is
not possible.
No man had seen God at
any time John 1:18.

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So what does seeing God mean?

It means to enter into

the fullness of knowledge
of God, without having to
grope in the darkness.
1 Corinthians 13:12 - Now
we see but a poor
reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to
face. Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.

It means to enter into the intimate fellowship of His love.

Loves highest joy is to be in the presence of the loved
one.
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