The Purpose of the Commandments
- Thread starter resurrection33
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
"Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). At first glance, this is a difficult passage. It seems to be calling us to do or be what seems impossible. "Nobody is perfect," is what we say.
It is true that all responsible people commit sin. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That is why Jesus died for all men to give them the opportunity to have their sin removed (Heb. 2:9; 2 Cor. 5:14). It is also why the gospel needs to be preached "to every creature" (Mark 16:16). Even after one obeys the gospel, he still commits sin and needs forgiveness (1 John 1:7–10).
If Matthew 5:48 were telling us that we must live sinlessly perfect lives or that we must be as perfect as God, then we obviously have some real problems.
When we seek to determine the meaning of any Biblical text, especially one that seems difficult to understand, we must remember, when it comes to Scripture, whatever God’s word says on any subject is right (Psa. 119:128). It is also possible to twist or misuse the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:15–16).
In the study of the difficult text before us, we must answer three questions. First: Can the word "perfect" have several meanings in the Bible? Second: What is the context of this verse? Third: Are there other verses in the Bible which will help us understand this one?
The Meaning of Perfect
The word "perfect," in the Bible, can and does mean "complete" or "finished." Jesus was made "perfect" through suffering (Heb. 2:10; 5:8–9). He completed or fulfilled God’s plan for Him as our Savior by suffering for us.
"Perfect" can also have the meaning of "mature" or "grown up." In Philippians 3:15, the apostle Paul speaks to "as many as be perfect" (KJV). The NKJV translates this phrase "as many as are mature."
The Context of Matthew 5:48
Jesus contrasts His teaching with that of the Old Law (Matt. 5:38–39). He shows us what our attitude is to be toward those who want to make life hard for us by forcing us or hatefully treating us (Matt. 5:40–44).
He teaches us to love our "enemies" (Matt. 5:44), not an easy thing to do. We are to do this so "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:45a). God acts with concern and love for all men. If we act like our heavenly Father, we will act with positive good will toward evil and good men alike. If we only love those who love us but do not love our enemies, we are really no better than evil men for even evil people are capable of loving those who love them (Matt. 5:46).
When Jesus said, "Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48), He was saying, "Let your love be complete as God’s love." God loves all people, even evil ones. This is how we can be as "perfect" as God. Our love for our fellow-man needs to grow and mature -- including loving our enemies. If we do not love our enemies, we are not acting as sons of God ought to act. http://www.centervilleroad.com/articles/perfect.html
It is true that all responsible people commit sin. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That is why Jesus died for all men to give them the opportunity to have their sin removed (Heb. 2:9; 2 Cor. 5:14). It is also why the gospel needs to be preached "to every creature" (Mark 16:16). Even after one obeys the gospel, he still commits sin and needs forgiveness (1 John 1:7–10).
If Matthew 5:48 were telling us that we must live sinlessly perfect lives or that we must be as perfect as God, then we obviously have some real problems.
When we seek to determine the meaning of any Biblical text, especially one that seems difficult to understand, we must remember, when it comes to Scripture, whatever God’s word says on any subject is right (Psa. 119:128). It is also possible to twist or misuse the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:15–16).
In the study of the difficult text before us, we must answer three questions. First: Can the word "perfect" have several meanings in the Bible? Second: What is the context of this verse? Third: Are there other verses in the Bible which will help us understand this one?
The Meaning of Perfect
The word "perfect," in the Bible, can and does mean "complete" or "finished." Jesus was made "perfect" through suffering (Heb. 2:10; 5:8–9). He completed or fulfilled God’s plan for Him as our Savior by suffering for us.
"Perfect" can also have the meaning of "mature" or "grown up." In Philippians 3:15, the apostle Paul speaks to "as many as be perfect" (KJV). The NKJV translates this phrase "as many as are mature."
The Context of Matthew 5:48
Jesus contrasts His teaching with that of the Old Law (Matt. 5:38–39). He shows us what our attitude is to be toward those who want to make life hard for us by forcing us or hatefully treating us (Matt. 5:40–44).
He teaches us to love our "enemies" (Matt. 5:44), not an easy thing to do. We are to do this so "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:45a). God acts with concern and love for all men. If we act like our heavenly Father, we will act with positive good will toward evil and good men alike. If we only love those who love us but do not love our enemies, we are really no better than evil men for even evil people are capable of loving those who love them (Matt. 5:46).
When Jesus said, "Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48), He was saying, "Let your love be complete as God’s love." God loves all people, even evil ones. This is how we can be as "perfect" as God. Our love for our fellow-man needs to grow and mature -- including loving our enemies. If we do not love our enemies, we are not acting as sons of God ought to act. http://www.centervilleroad.com/articles/perfect.html
F
That you have sins you need to repent of only confirms that you are not as perfect as the Father in Heaven. And I have news for you, you never will be as perfect as Him through your "pretty good" Law keeping. It's specifically because man's attempts at keeping the Law having never amounted to anything more than "pretty good" that the Law has never made anything perfect. But that does nothing to change the reality that it is perfection that is the requirement.