You Shall Be Perfect

"You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (1)

People talk about perfection. There are many strange ideas of "perfection" floating around. What is "perfection" according to the meaning conveyed or intended in the Bible when Jesus said, "Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." What's He talking about here? Jesus prefaced this statement by saying, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (2)

Perfection in this context is related to learning how to love our neighbors and our enemies in the same way that God loves them. We are to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Perfection in this context is in harmony with God's values of loving Him supremely and loving our neighbors, including our enemies, as we love ourselves. On these two foundation principles rests the law of God and the messages of all His Prophets. (3) Paul stated, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (4)

Our human nature is prone to selfishness and greed, and putting self first. The "new birth" is learning how to love our Creator supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. This is what Jesus came to teach us, and then to take care of the deficit on our part.
One day a man said to Jesus, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God." (5) Jesus came to seek sinners like you and me, and then help us to know Him and to clean up our thoughts, habits, actions, and behaviors by sharing His values and His Spirit with us to prepare us for the life to come. Those who appreciate and accept His values will be called His brothers and sisters, and more than that, we will be involved with Him in the administration of His universe. (6)

We cannot comprehend the things that our Creator has prepared for us. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (7)

Thank you wonderful Father and Saviour for all You do for us.

1. Matthew 5:48.
2. Matthew 5:43-48.
3. Matthew 22:37-40.
4. Galatians 5:14.
5. Matthew 19:16, 17.
6. Revelation 3:21.
7. 1 Corinthians 2:9.