Matthew 5:48
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I have to admit that I have always found this verse, which serves as something of a climax to this section of Jesus’ teaching on the relational ethics of the kingdom, rather intimidating. Be perfect? Come on! As God is perfect? Give me a break!
But the interesting thing is that the word translated here as “perfect” comes from the Greek word “telos,” which typically denotes something not so much morally perfect as it does something that has grown up, matured, and now reached its perfect end. That is, telos is the goal or desired outcome of a thing. A fruit tree’s telos, we might say, is to grow mature and tall so that it can bear fruit.
So perhaps we would be better reframing – and re-translating – this verse as does Eugene Peterson in his version of the Bible called The Message: “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Or, as I like to translate it more simply, “Be the person God has created you to be, just as God is who God is supposed to be.
So here’s the question: what does God want you to be? I’m not sure we give that enough thought in our Christian lives. Not that there is only one thing, or that God is ordaining events to drive you in one direction, or that any of us know God’s will for us and the world fully. But despite those perhaps necessary caveats, I still want to ask, what do you believe God has called you to be and to do? When you think about your gifts, dreams, and experiences, where do you think God may be leading you? What potential might you have to make a difference in this world God loves so much? Who is the person God has created you to be?
Don’t worry if it takes a while to answer. It’s a big question. But as you begin to approach a response, think for a minute about this question as well: what is keeping you from living into that identity, purpose, and calling? And then pray for strength to overcome it for the sake of the world.
Prayer: Dear God, let us hear you calling us to be the kind of people you want us to be, and grant us faith and courage to live into that identity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Since Jesus says “therefore” in 5:48, he is referring back to what he just said; and the last theme he taught–in 5:43-47–fits the bill of referring to who God is and who children of God should be.
In 5:43 Jesus introduces the less than perfect way of the law of Moses, that says love your neighbor and hate your enemy. (The neighbor is defined in Lev. 19:18 as “the sons of your own people;” the enemy is described in passages like Lev. 26:7, where Israel is to chase down its enemies–especially the Canaanites in their promised land–and they will fall by the sword.)
But Jesus’ more perfect way is to love everyone, even enemies (5:44). Disciples must now do this so they might be sons (and daughters) of their Father in heaven (5:45). Because their Father gives the sun and rain for the evil as well as the good, true children of this Father will love their evil enemies. Thus: be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is very good I always wondered about this use of ‘perfect’. It is somewhat obvious that Jesus cannot be asking for actual perfection from mere imperfect mortals. Thanks for the article David and Lucas’for your comment.
This certainly is food for thought & personal reflection.
I think this description of ‘perfect’ re. ‘telos’ becoming what we are created to be/reaching maturity, and, as I understand Lucas, the text suggesting a more perfect understanding of love, to include the stranger or enemy, as more comprehensible than striving for moral perfection.