Red Letters

Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Seeing God is one of the greatest privileges a man can have, and the Jews were well aware of this. Even Moses saw only the glory in the wake of the Lord, for no man can look on the face of God and live. Figuratively, to see God may be to understand or communicate with Him. Alternatively, the passage could be understood to refer to the resurrection, when those whose hearts are pure shall enter heaven and behold the father face to face.
The pure in heart do not have a barrier of sin between them and God, allowing them to see Him. Though righteousness is mentioned frequently as an attribute of carnal men in the scriptures, the full effect of this blessing can only be realized through the cleansing of the heart by Christ’s sanctification.
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Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”

This blessing is easiest to understand and least reserved of the beatitudes. Those who make peace - between nations, parties, individuals, and within hearts - are blessed here for actions and attitudes.
To be called a “son of God” is to be a successor, protégé, beloved, offspring, follower, imitator of God, and meant more in Roman Judea than in modern America. The sons of God are those closest to Him, and those to whom the kingdom of heaven will belong. In Matthew’s context of kingship and kingdom, this is perhaps the most important meaning.
The use of the word “called” is interesting; the word could be entirely omitted. Does it mean that they will be called “sons of God” by men or by God? If by men, it could be applied to unbelievers who are nonetheless in tune with their Creator’s ways and not necessarily heaven-bound. If by God, then the blessing is one of salvation, since the theme of sons of God is closely attached with salvation.