Matthew 5:48
“Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
My wife Tracy was exploring this and related verses this morning and shared her thoughts with me. Let’s explore this some more…
These are Yeshua Messiah’s words at the end of Matthew 48.
That is quite a tall order, is it not?
Be perfect.
Just as your Father in heaven.
Wow!!!
Where do we even start?
This is the type of verse most of us have spent our whole lives just glossing over. We’ve seen it while reading Matthew. We’ve seen it in devotional books. We’ve heard it in church sermons.
Let’s slow down for just a second and not gloss over it.
Let’s think about this one.
Really, how on earth can we be perfect like our Father in heaven?
I’ve been taught this is not possible.
These are the words of Messiah, so we have to believe them.
“Can we get some help please?”
2Samuael 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect.
The word of Adonai is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:31
As for God, His way is perfect.
The word of Adonai is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 19:8-9
The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the soul.
The testimony of Adonai is trustworthy,
making the simple wise.
9 The precepts of Adonai are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commandments of Adonai are pure,
giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Torah of Adonai.
2 Happy are those who keep His testimonies,
who seek Him with a whole heart,
3 who also do no injustice, but walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded that Your precepts
be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways were steadfast
to observe Your decrees!
6 Then I would not be ashamed,
when I consider all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with an upright heart
as I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will observe Your statutes.
Never abandon me utterly!
Psalm 119:95-97
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me.
But I will study Your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
yet Your commandment is boundless.
97 O how I love Your Torah!
It is my meditation all day.
2John 1:6
6 Now this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the commandment—just as you heard from the beginning—that you walk in love.
Psalm 119:141-144
I am insignificant and despised,
yet I have not forgotten Your precepts.
142 Your justice is righteousness forever,
and Your Torah is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
yet Your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever
—make me understand, so I may live.
Psalm 119:159-160
159 See how I loved Your precepts.
Restore my life, Adonai, with Your lovingkindness.
160 Truth is the essence of Your word,
and all Your righteous rulings are eternal.
James 1:2-8
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting—for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord— 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
We are imperfect, but we can seek after the perfect words and ways of Yehova. But first, we can only come to the Father through Yeshua Messiah:
John 14:6
6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 1:29
29 The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Once we have put our faith in Messiah, and repented of our sins, then we continue to walk in His ways and not in our own ways.
Galatians 2:19-20
I have been crucified with Messiah; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by trusting in the Son of Yehova—who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Romans 12:1-2
I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of Yehova, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to Yehova—which is your spiritual service. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of Yehova—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
As we go about this walk, we should keep these words of Mosheh in mind:
Exodus 33:13
13 Now then, I pray, if I have found grace in Your eyes, show me Your ways, so that I may know You, so that I might find favor in Your sight.
We cannot be perfect in and of ourselves.
Pray that He will show us His ways, day in and day out.
Why?
So that we might know Him.
Why?
So that we might find favor in His sight.