Matthew 5:8

Matthew 5:8 is the eighth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It is the sixth verse of the Sermon on the Mount, and also sixth of what are known as the Beatitudes.

Content

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

:Blessed are the pure in heart:

:for they shall see God.

The World English Bible translates the passage as:

:Blessed are the pure in heart,

:for they shall see God.

The Novum Testamentum Graece text is:

:μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ,

:ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν Θεὸν ὄψονται.

For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 5:8.

Analysis

This verse is generally believed to have been taken from either by Jesus or the author of Matthew who was adding this verse that is not found in Luke. A number of scholars have been certain that there were originally seven Beatitudes, as seven was a holy number. Since this verse is so similar to the Psalm some believe it was the one incorrectly integrated into the Sermon on the Mount. Hill speculates that the verse could actually be a mistranslation of Isaiah 61:1, and should have read "only the contrite will see God".

The form – "blessed" (Greek: ') + subject + "that" (') + cause – can be found in (also in Tobit 13:16), whereas the eschatological orientation is similar to (also 1 Enoch 58:2–3). Other ancient literature can attest the grouping together of several beatitudes (cf. 4Q525 2; 2 Enoch 52:1–14) and the use of third person plural address (cf. Pss. Sol. 17:44; Tobit 13:14). The Greek word makarios cannot adequately be rendered as "blessed" nor "happy", as it is rather 'a term of congratulation and recommendation', that can also mean "satisfied" (as in ).

The word purity is not believed to refer to one who was ritually cleansed, but rather to internal spiritual purity as noted by the "in heart" addition. At the time the heart was literally seen as the seat of emotion and the soul, though today the verse is read metaphorically. Davies and Allison read a pure heart as being one that is simple and undivided in allegiance.

Commentary from the Church Fathers

Ambrose: The merciful loses the benefit of his mercy, unless he shows it from a pure heart; for if he seeks to have whereof to boast, he loses the fruit of his deeds; the next that follows therefore is, Blessed are the pure in heart.

Content

Analysis

Commentary from the Church Fathers

See also

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Further reading