The Commandment to be Perfect

The Conundrum

How do Christian teachings justify the seeming impossibility of the commandment to be perfect like our Father in Heaven?

A Solution

As recorded in Matthew 5:48 Jesus told his followers “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Jesus seems here to be giving an impossible commandment. How can a mere mortal be perfect like God is perfect? Does Jesus expect an impossibility? This seems unlikely, because commanding the impossible seems like an ungodly thing to do.

But what does this word “perfect” mean? We must remember that the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language of the time (called koine Greek), not English. The Greek word translated here as "perfect" in Matthew 5:48 is τέλειος (teleios), meaning completeness, maturity, or fulfillment of purpose rather than flawlessness. And through Christ, all human beings can achieve this state of completeness. Not that all will achieve it, of course, but the possibility is there.

I am reminded of some some other passages in the New Testament that suggest this is doable.

• Romans 8:16–17 | 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

• Galatians 4:7 | 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

• John 1:12 | 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

• Revelation 3:21 | 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The important thing to keep in mind is that we cannot of ourselves reach the perfection commanded in Matthew 5:48, so that we may sit with Christ in his throne, but Christ may grant it because he makes us worthy. What can we become? We can become like Christ, as it is written here:

• 1 John 3:2 | 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.