'You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.' (Matthew 23:26)īeing a hypocrite is literally playacting your faith. ''This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me (Matthew 15:8) Here’s two verses to remind us of what not to be: That was the exact opposite of the hypocritical religious ways of the Pharisees. No longer enslaved to sin but still deeply effected by sin, right? Ok, so now what? “Purity” in this context means “undivided” devotion to God. So, if our goal is a pure heart, what does that mean? As believers we are given a new heart that can actually know God. I am not sure about you but even apart from how the Bible describes the condition of our sinful hearts, my experience confirms it. To paraphrase and apply this you could say, “Our happiness is the direct result of maintaining a pure heart because in doing so, you will have a living relationship with God.” So, Jesus in effect brings us right up to another spiritual crossroad.Īt first blush, I guess you could think, “Is that all?” Piece of cake, right? All I have to do is keep my heart pure then I can truly sense God’s presence in my life. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (v. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount brings me to this kind dilemma over and over and verse 8 is no exception.

Not overcomplicating or over thinking things can be both refreshing and deflating at the same time. To simply read what it says and believe that that is exactly what it means. The Hebrew word that the word vanity is translated from literally means “vapor” or “breath,” implying something that has no substance or permanence, such as the worship of idols or worldly things.Įditor’s note: This page is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation of the selected scripture verse, only a starting point for your own study.Usually the best way to understand Scripture is to take it at face value. Hinckley, “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Nov. It does hurt, because small lying leads to large lying, and the prisons of the nation are the best proof of that fact.” President Gordon B. He or she can walk with head high, standing above the crowd of lesser folk who constantly indulge in lying, cheating, and who excuse themselves with statements that a little lying hurts no one.

No act of duplicity colors his or her conscience. No false words besmirch his or her reputation. “There is no substitute under the heavens for the man or woman, the boy or girl who is honest. For a poster on this topic, see the January 1993 New Era, page 7. Having clean hands means living righteously and repenting when we have sinned (see Isaiah 1:18). Having a pure heart means having virtuous thoughts and righteous intentions. Faust 1920–2007, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?” Ensign, Aug.

In our homes all of the security, the strengthening love, and the sympathetic understanding that we all so desperately need should be found.” President James E. Our homes should be committed and dedicated only to holy purposes. “As we recall the commandment to stand in holy places, we should remember that beyond the temple, the most sacred and holy places in all the world should be our own dwelling places. How is this like increasing your spirituality or going to the temple? What are you doing to strengthen yourself to “ascend into the hill of the Lord”? Read For the Strength of Youth for ideas. When you climb a hill for the first time, it may seem difficult, but if you climb the hill regularly, you become stronger and better able to handle the climb. A hill or mountain also often symbolizes the temple (see, for instance, Isaiah 2:2). The hill of the Lord represents higher spiritual ground, which brings us closer to God. “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Hill of the Lord “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place?

Clean hands and a pure heart scripture