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Response
Matthew 5:48 is part of the challenging Sermon on the Mount: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This may seem like an unattainable standard that Jesus is presenting to us. How can we achieve the same level of perfection as God? What was the intended meaning behind Jesus’ words?
Some individuals may interpret the directive to be perfect as evidence supporting the concept of sinless perfection. However, various Bible verses acknowledge the ongoing battle with sin in the life of a Christian (Galatians 5:17;Romans 7:15-20;1 John 1:8-10;Philippians 3:12). Jesus’ statement cannot be used to support the idea of sinless perfection, as the Scriptures consistently convey a different message. We will never achieve perfection, in the sense of being “sinless,” during our earthly lives.
Let us examine the broader context before exploring the meaning of being “perfect.” Jesus initiates His sermon by pronouncing blessings on unexpected individuals (Matthew 5:3-12). He then asserts that His disciples are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, underscoring the significance of good deeds (verses 13–16). Subsequently, He shifts His focus to the law, clarifying that His standard goes beyond mere compliance with the law’s literal requirements (verses 17–47). Our thoughts and intentions are also crucial. This is why Jesus equates lust with adultery and hatred with murder. He also stresses the importance of loving enemies, non-resistance, the sanctity of marriage, and refraining from making oaths.
In Matthew 5:48, Jesus continues to raise the bar higher than we typically set it. The literal interpretation is likely what Jesus intended. We are summoned to achieve absolute perfection, mirroring the perfection of our heavenly Father. Every aspect of our existence should align with God’s principles, including our innermost thoughts.The Greek term used, teleios, signifies a sense of maturity, completeness, or achieving a goal. In this context, the objective is to fulfill God’s standard, not merely settle for human morality. A disciple of Christ cannot adopt an attitude of “I’m good enough.”
This realization should unsettle any sincere individual, as who can reach moral perfection? Who has not felt envy, desire, or animosity? The notion that we can be flawless like God appears exaggerated. Furthermore, the Bible explicitly states that we are not flawless. We are all sinners and have failed to meet God’s standard (Romans 3:9-20;1 John 1:8;Ecclesiastes 7:20;Psalm 14:2-3). How, then, do we harmonize the directive to be perfect like God with the reality that we are not?
The solution is found in the gospel. Jesus is the sole One who has led a faultless life, and it is through Him that we fulfill God’s standard. Instead of earning righteousness, we are deemed righteous because of Christ. As Paul affirms,
We are justified before God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this applies to everyone who believes, regardless of who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God graciously and freely declares us righteous. He accomplished this through Christ Jesus when He liberated us from the consequences of our sins (Romans 3:22-24;NLT).
