In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says Be ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect. Does Jesus mean that we are to be perfect? Can we
be perfect? What is being perfect?
The dictionary defines perfect as absolutely
flawless, 100% pure, accurate, sinless, faultless. Given this, can any of us perfect?
This scripture, if taken out of context, would seem to indicate so. We need to read the
previous verses and keep this scripture in its context. Verse 48 is part of the Sermon on
the Mount. Beginning in verse 43 Jesus says to love your enemies, not just your
friends. He says to bless them that curse you, pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you.So, what does this mean?
In the Greek, perfect is defined as
complete, mature, grown up mentally, spiritually, and practically. Is this not the
picture of a parent-child relationship? The parent is the one to set the example and show
these grown up, mature characteristics. Look at Matthew 5:48 again. See the phrase even
as your Father. He is the Father; we are the children in this relationship we have with
God. He is the "grown up" and we are to follow his example. God does not have to strive to
be pure. He does not have to learn. But we do. A parent wants a child to grow and mature.
This is what God wants for us. We will never be sinless, but we can be more mature about
our Christianity. We are to be more mature.
In Ecclesiastes 3:14
Solomon starts out the verse with a simple phrase. I know that. Now look
at the remainder of the verse to see what he knew. Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be
forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men
should fear before him. What he plainly tells us here is that what God does stands
forever. Whatever he does needs no improvements or amendments. God cannot be dressed up or
changed. HE IS ALREADY COMPLETE. God does it. That's it. Nothing needs to be changed about
it. I am not that way. I can be improved.
Job 9:20-21 states if
I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also
prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my
life. In short, if I try to justify myself, sooner or later my own words will condemn
me. I would despise myself. It would prove me to be perverse. I would be lying to myself
for I wouldn't even know my own soul.
God wants us to work on our relationship with
him. Let him be the Father in the relationship, not us. Recognize the perfection of God.
Trust him to be mature.
How do we do this? We have to work at it. Next week we will
look at I John chapters 1-3 and Ephesians 3. We have to deal with ourselves before we can
be perfect.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 