October 23 - Matthew 5:48a

I spent time this week in my Inductive Bible Study class looking at one phrase in one verse.  And I ended up with eight pages of information about a single word.

The verse is "Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect."  (Matthew 5:48)

So, what do you think about this verse?  Is it a command for us to eliminate all sin from our lives and live perfectly?  Well ... maybe.  But, there is so much more to it than this.

The verse comes at the end of Jesus' teaching about the law.  Through Matthew 5:17-48, Jesus is transforming the way people look at the Law.  Remember ... for a Jew, they were required to follow all sorts of rules so that they would be right with God.  By this point, the only thing they were doing was following rules ... it didn't mean much to them.  It was definitely not about a relationship with God - but ensuring that they did just enough to get by.  Jesus wanted them to know that it was what was in their heart that was important - not that they made a show of following the rules.

The preceding segment of the Sermon on the Mount is filled with Jesus beginning a teaching by saying "You have heard it said ..."  Then, He turns everything around when He says to them, "But I say to you ..."  He teaches on murder, lust ... and by the time he gets to Matthew 46-47, He reminds them that extravagant love and hospitality is important.  It isn't enough to love only those who love you ... that makes you no better than the tax collector.  It isn't enough to say hello and be hospitable to your brothers ... even the pagans do that.

Then ..."Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect."

This word - perfect - (Greek - teleios) is found throughout the New Testament.  Paul uses it in his letters to talk about maturity.  It's translated as completeness, fullness.  The word is used in the Old Testament - shalem (not shalom - peace).  It is often used to describe a person loving God or following God with their whole heart.  It doesn't actually mean sinlessness.  David followed God with his whole heart, but we know that he sinned. In 2 Chronicles 15:17, Asa is credited with following God with his whole heart, even as the high places remained in the land (a symbol of idol worship - and which got other kings in a LOT of trouble).

2 Chronicles 25:2 tells us that Amaziah did what was right with the Lord, but he didn't actually follow the Lord with a blameless heart.

So ... sin is not the measure of perfection.  Submission to God is the measure.  Growing in maturity.  Loving God with your whole heart.

Paul knew that we were on a journey.  If we actually achieved perfection, why, we'd be God!  No, it's a journey that we can all be on and if Jesus commanded us to do it, he knew that we would be able to move towards perfection.  He wouldn't ask us to do the impossible.

Be perfect - love the Lord with your whole heart, submit to His will, continue to grow in Him.  Be perfect.