Friday, July 16

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- Matthew 5:48

This is the final verse of chapter 5, and it has always made me a little uncomfortable. It just sounds so impossible, who can possibly be perfect? Don’t we say and isn’t it true that “nobody is perfect”? Not even Mary Poppins was perfect, she was just “practically perfect in every way.” But seriously, doesn’t the Bible teach that we are fallen creatures and that nobody is without sin? If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (John 1:8).

Well then, how are we to understand this command of Jesus?

The word translated "Be perfect" in verse 48 is the Greek word teleios. It means "complete, perfect, or mature". It comes from the verb root tele, "bring to an end, finish, complete, carry out, or accomplish." Teleios means 'having attained the end or aim'; if anything or anyone has fully attained that for which they were designed, they are perfect.

Jesus is using this word in the context of God’s love (which is what the entire section has been about). He is saying that we must strive toward becoming mature in our understanding and expression of God’s love.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:4

In other words, growing in God’s love is a process. We are all learning to grow up and become mature in our understanding and application of the amazing love of God. The more mature, or complete we are in his love, the more we will forgive, sacrifice, serve, and willingly surrender our rights. The more we do that, the more we will look like our Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:45).

We say that Jesus Christ is our example don’t we? Aren’t we trying to be imitators and followers of his example? We also say that Jesus was perfect right? Well…think about the implications of that for a minute…

You might be thinking, “yeah, but will we ever attain such a lofty goal?” Well, the answer is both yes and no. No, of course none of us will ever be completely sin free or on a level with our Lord Jesus. But yes, we can and should become more mature and complete in our love for God and for other people!

The Kingdom Christian must never use the phrase “nobody is perfect” as a justification for not growing in the love of God. We must not reinterpret the law (as the Pharisees did) to justify our lack of love or to rationalize our sinfulness. Remember, Jesus said that our righteousness was to surpass, that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (Matt. 5:20).

We don’t redefine the law to meet our standards, the law of God redefines us and raises us up little by little to meet his standards!

Father, we have such a long way to go in our love. Forgive us for our selfishness, our pettiness. As your children, we want reflect your character to others. Teach us to love our enemies, to overcome evil with good. Have mercy upon us as we learn to have mercy on others - Amen.

Jeff Frazier