"Being Perfect" Matthew 5:48

"Therefore, be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Let's start with the easy part: the word therefore.  Therefore means, "in light of everything that just preceded -in light of what has just been talked about."  So, in this passage, Jesus is saying "In light of all of this teaching on love and the Kingdom and integrity, be perfect as you heavenly Father is perfect."

Now, for the harder part: this idea of being perfect like God is perfect.  That command seems a little extreme, just a bit out of our league.  I would feel better about it if Jesus had said something like, "Try real hard to be more or less as perfect as your neighbor."  I'd even be ok with, "Be more or less as perfect as your preacher."  But, "Be perfect as God is perfect," seems just a tad impossible.

The issue here is, of course, this word perfect.  When we think of the perfection of God, we all know we are never going to measure up.  God is absolutely perfect in every way, and despite our attempts at being good, we aren't even close -I mean we are not even close to being good, let alone perfect.

It might help to know that the word translated into English as perfect, the Greek word telios does not actually mean absolute god-like perfection.  Telios has a very specific type of perfection in mind.  It means to be complete, whole, mature, and having integrity.  So, this command that Jesus is giving us here might be better understood as, "In light of this teaching on the Kingdom and love and integrity, whole-heartedly pursue integrity and spiritual maturity."

We are brought to this kind of perfection by following and obeying the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, cooperating with Him as we are transformed into the likeness and character of Christ.  Follow and obey and work with God as He transforms us -still a difficult command, but not impossible.