“Don’t judge a book by its cover”, says the proverb of the world. I do it though, don’t you? There are many books I would not have chosen to read based on the cover alone, but once I got into the story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’ve been writing my way through the Beatitudes of the Gospel of Matthew. This next Beatitude takes us past the outward appearance to the heart hidden beneath. There is a story in the Old Testament which illustrates this Beatitude perfectly. We find it in the book of 1 Samuel, where the prophet Samuel was sent by God to a man named Jesse in the town of Bethlehem. Samuel was to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as Israel’ s next king after King Saul had so miserably failed.
As Samuel gathered Jesse’s family and prepared to anoint the one God would show him, he did what any of us would do—he looked at the line up of Jesse’s sons and guessed which one was God’s selection. There was something about Eliab that was outwardly favorable. Maybe he was the tallest, oldest and very handsome—we are not told exactly. We are told that Samuel judged based on his appearance because God speaks to Samuel,
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7
All of Jesse’s sons were made to pass by Samuel and none of them were the one God had chosen. A puzzled Samuel asked Jesse if these were all of his sons. Jesse mentioned that there was one other—the youngest, just a shepherd boy, and considered out of the running even by his own father. In the end, this was the one God had chosen; a young, ruddy boy named David, later known as a man after God’s own heart.
David had something inside, his brothers were lacking.
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were very religious. They seated themselves in high authority; they dressed in garments that made them look holy and important, with extra long tassels. They were so particular in their tithing that they even gave a portion of their garden herbs to the temple. They were, by every standard of outward appearance, holy. But Jesus called them serpents, a brood of vipers, hypocrites, as he pronounced woe upon them.
“So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matt. 23:28
The Pharisees lacked something Jesus was looking for.
There is a tragic story told by Jesus near the end of his Sermon on the Mount as he summarizes his message:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matt. 7:21-23
What a terrible reality that will be for many. These people thought they were righteous because they appeared religious to other men.
In the end, they lacked what Jesus was looking for.
You see, God desires our heart, not our outward forms of religious behavior. His blazing, all-seeing eyes pierce past our masks, our fake pretenses, our heartless religious rituals. His omniscient gaze penetrates deeper than the baptism certificate, the one-time prayer we cling to, all the church service we perform, or the ‘good person’ that we are.
God sees our hearts.
The psalmist wondered who are the pure in heart that shall see God:
“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4
Haven’t we all sinned and have an impure heart? Yes. But if we’re Christ’s by faith, his righteousness becomes ours in the great exchange that took place on the cross, and we are cleansed from all of our sins. Outward rituals, appearances, and works do not purify our hearts. These things actually make us more proud and rebellious, not poor in spirit.
Those who have faith in Christ as Savior and Lord as the only way to true salvation—these are the pure in heart, who will one day see God face to face.
“They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” Rev. 22:4
Maybe you’re not sure if this is you? May I challenge you to ask yourself some hard questions, and answer them honestly?
– Do you believe you will go to heaven when you die?
– If yes, why do you think so?
– If no, or not sure, will you read this?
If any of your answers begin with something you have (Christian family, education, background; baptism certificate, etc.) or have done (baptism, church attendance, etc.), then you’re most likely trusting in yourself, and not in Christ.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph. 2:8-9
Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be pure in heart. Sadly, many will reject this way. I pray it’s not you, dear reader.
“It is the {lack} of an honest heart which makes many stick fast in their religion all their days, and die at length without peace.” – J.C. Ryle
The Light for My Path 