We’ll consider the issue of purity first by using the life of Joseph, then going to see what the New Testament says!
(A) Blessed are the pure: Attainment (Gen 39:1-6)
Joseph was sold by his brothers out of jealousy (Gen 37). Genesis 37 details his interaction with his brothers and the circumstances surrounding his eventual entry into slavery. His brothers originally schemed to kill him, but Judah eventually convinces the brothers to profit from his life by selling him instead. Judah rationalises it as a merciful decision to spare Joseph’s but later, in Leviticus, the law states explicitly about selling each other as slaves is to be forbidden (Lev 25:42). They are to treat each other as God’s people — precious and not to be sold.
How might he have felt? He would have felt betrayed by his brothers and frustrated by the dysfunctional favouritism that caused all this. As a slave in a foreign land, he would have been scared by the new environment, culture and situation that he is in.
But notice Genesis 39:2-6. The writer, Moses, speaks of him becoming a successful man, and was in the house of Potiphar. His success was seen in how he grew and the responsibility that he was given in the house of Potiphar. All that he enjoyed was attributed to the LORD being with him (Gen 39:2). God continued to show His faithfulness by being with him. And his success was evident for all to see. God blessed Potiphar because of Joseph. Upon witnessing Joseph's success in the small things, Potiphar entrusted Joseph with even more responsibilities. we see God's faithfulness to Joseph even at his low point, to not abandon him, but to bless him with his presence, and to cause him to be a blessing to Potiphar's household.
We also see how God also was faithful to His promise to Abraham. God’s people are to be a blessing to the nations, and Joseph, though a slave, was able to do so for his master and his master’s house.
(B) Blessed are the pure: Enticement, entrapment & imprisonment (Gen 39:7-22)
We are given an important detail about Joseph. Moses describes him as “handsome in form and appearance” (Gen 39:6b). This was a similar description for his mum, Rachel. His appearance led to Potiphar’s wife’s advances. She is described as casting her eyes on Joseph, as she notices him and desires him. So she initiates sexual advances towards Joseph. As the master’s wife, very seldom are there any demands of her’s that are not met especially when it is asked of a slave in the house.
However, Joseph refuses and gives three reasons in Genesis 39:8-9. Firstly, he did not want to betray the trust his master had put in him. Secondly, he respected the sanctity of marriage — one that is an exclusive covenant between the husband and wife. This was evident in how he reminded her that she was his wife. There’s a tinge of pleading and reasoning, to encourage her to remember this marriage and not to throw it away in a moment of passion.
Joseph’s refusal reveals a worldview where sex is expressed in marriage. It is the culminating expression of intimacy and love in marriage. This contrasts with Potiphar’s wife’s worldview — casual, no big deal, there to serve a basic desire. We too, face a world with a worldview that is different from God’s. How do we respond to it? Sex cannot and should not be reduced to just a need. It is not about technique. It is not just about consent. It was designed for marriage, within the confines of a covenant and to image the love that God has for His church. We studied a few weeks back about how marriage is God’s way of illustrating his deeply faithful and committed, utterly selfless love for us when one day He will come as the bridegroom of the church and be united with his people.
Revelation 19:7 gives us this picture. In that sense, sex is a reminder and a picture for when Christ will come again. Sex is not everything either. Another worldview we frequently come across today is that unhindered sexual expression is of utmost importance because it is part of one’s identity. Any suppression of that is hatred, and the limiting of one’s essential self.
We’re reminded that though Joseph was well-built and handsome he did not see full self expression of his primed, youthful, supple body as everything to his identity. He did not reduce himself to his sexuality and though his life was tough, he did not demand that as a dealbreaker with God. It was okay for Joseph to not fully express his sexuality because sex was not everything. Sex was not primarily created to please the individual and really is a reminder and picture of when Christ will come again. And the truth of the matter is, we don’t really need to have it to truly long for true satisfaction in Christ.
Joseph gives a third reason. He points out that it is fundamentally against God. This is his final and strongest reason — committing adultery is against God Himself (Gen 39:9). What would we classify as wickedness? Do we see this in all sin against God, that it is great wickedness? Or do we like Eve, twist God’s character from one that is good to one that withholds good from us? Do we turn his commands, meant to protect us, into one that keeps us from good?
Now realise Joseph’s life story. He had experience a lot of wickedness and injustice. He had many reasons to feel angry, resentful, bitter, cynical and to indulge in self-pity. He could have accepted her proposition and seek some comfort and solace in that sense. He could have done it secretly and since his family was so far away so no one would really know. He could have also couched it as the cultural norm or obedience to his master’s wife. Perhaps Joseph could also have used this to improve his standing in the house and further solidify his meteoric rise.
What we need to see that it was also very easy for Joseph to give in to sexual temptation. But what kept him from giving in and eroding his conscience? Go back to Genesis 39:2. Joseph was fully aware that the LORD was with him. This is a deterrent to sin. It is when we know that God is still with us even in our lowest moment. It is being fully aware that He is the chief offended party when we pursue sin and feed our desires that run contrary to His nature. It offends his person because we are taking His beautiful design and manipulating it for fleeting pleasures that will not truly satisfy.
How did this shape his actions in Genesis 39:10? Joseph has refused her once but that was not it. She was persistent and continued to pursue him. He displayed a steadfastness in fighting this temptation. Joseph gives us a picture of using everything within his power to resist and cut off temptation.
It is significant because this is instructive to all of us who wants to fight sexual sin. Whether it’s a person you are getting overly intimate with, or if it’s your phone that’s tempting you with images and fantasies of pleasure. We cannot run away from the reality of fighting sin in this fallen world.
Refusal is only the start and we should not let our guard down against the daily temptation. Temptation does not stop knocking on your door after you are married! If you own a phone, what are your viewing habits? Who do you follow on social media? What’s on your regular daily consumption? Do they lower your threshold for sin? Do they desensitise you? Are you getting used to being next to sin? Listening, sitting beside and being in the presence of temptation might not be sinful in itself, but Joseph knew the dangers and persuasions and the inevitable path it leads down. He took immediate measures to safeguard his heart against possible temptations. If you are finding it hard to withstand the onslaught, find a trusted church mate, be honest with your struggles and have them keep you accountable. Joseph was trapped in slavery and could not get out. If you are a Christian, Christ’s death on the cross has set you free from the grips of sin and death. You can turn away from sin and temptation.
In Genesis 39:16, he loses his garment again, and this sets the stage for more troubles. His life kept on going down, despite his obedience and purity. But we go back to Genesis 39:2. Obedience did not seem to improve his circumstances, but yet, God was still with him (Gen 39:24).
(C) Blessed are the pure: For they shall see God (1 Thes 4:3-8, Eph 5:25-27)
We switch our focus to Paul’s letters to the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians 4. In it, Paul writes that God’s will is the sanctification of his people (1 Thess 4:3). The Westminster Catechism defines sanctification as “the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.”
Paul fleshes that out in the chapter. This means that they are not to participate in sexual immorality, to let our passions and lust control our body (1 Thess 4:3-4). We should also not be surprised when the Gentiles live in a way that show that they do not know God (1 Thess 4:5). This also means that knowing God helps us understand how to live in a way that pleases him.
Paul also goes on to explain that God has given us His Spirit, which allows us to live in this way (1 Thess 4:8). It means that like Joseph, we are not alone in our struggles. Matthew 1:22-23 tells us that Jesus is called the Immanuel, which means God with us. When Jesus left this earth, He said “and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”. God is indeed with us in all of life! We can fight sin not because we have a good resolve to do so, but because God has given us Himself.
Friends, as we examine the life of Joseph and see his near textbook response to sexual temptation, he was still ultimately taken by death. His days ended at a ripe old age and his bones were taken back to his fathers.
But know that there was another sent that was truly pure and blameless in every regard, who died and rose again and is now alive and seated at the right hand of God interceding for us. This is Jesus Christ our Saviour. In Him, we find our strength to fight temptation. God has given us Himself to fight sexual sins and to pursue purity, and He is enough. Know that you are not defined by your success or failures to ward off sin. Our identity is in Christ. Look up and look for His work in your life. Be strengthened and be strengthened to continue to pursue purity.
As we wrap up, let us also consider the purpose and goal of our sanctification. Ephesians 5:25-27 is helping us to see that Christ is not setting an arbitrary bar for us to achieve just for fun. It was serious enough for him such that he gave his life on the cross for sins that we committed in order to sanctify us and wash us of all our impurities. As we obey Paul’s commands to live sanctified lives, know that Christ’s death is what enables it. But also know that sanctification is to prepare us for our union with Christ when he comes back again.
We mentioned briefly that this is described in Revelation as the wedding feast of the Lamb. Where are we all going? We are being prepared for our marriage with Christ when he returns. Blessed are the pure, for they shall see God (face to face).That might be a strange thought. But married, single, divorce — all folks in all shapes who repent and believe in him have this to look forward to: Christ our self-sacrificial Groom, Christ our committed and faithful Groom, Christ our long awaited Saviour. In Christ, all our longings, all our needs all our desires will be fully met and fulfilled. May we look neither to the left or the right, but fully on Christ. May our eyes be fixed on Christ who’s right hand holds pleasures forevermore, and taste and see that the Lord is good, both now and in time to come!