"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them...Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate: and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ... A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father..."
Matt 7:12-27
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48
2006-10-18 01:16:47 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The proper context is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Unless you understand all of it, you have no hope of achieving the perfection jesus calls upon in Matthew 5:48.
2006-10-18 01:32:52 · update #1
It seems to me, and I could be wrong, but in Matthew 5:48, I think jesus is saying to be perfect in the way that you love one another. Immediately before this He's talking about loving your enemies because God loves us all regardless of our sin. As we want to be forgiven with that love, so are we to forgive. So, wouldn't the "perfection" He's talking about specifically pertain to that?
I've never met a perfect human being. If we're to be perfect, we're all doomed without grace.
Sin removes us from God spiritually. It's hard to believe that one sin accomplishes that. It seems more like a cumulative thing that eventually distracts us from our relationship with God. To me, God wants us to love Him more than anything else in this life. After that He wants us to love one another.
2006-10-18 02:20:52 · answer #1 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus didn't provide anything. We have nothing of his writings.
Paul / Saul was the only link we have during the decades after Jesus died (if he existed at all) and when the gospels were written. And Paul's writings included hardly any of the junk Mark wrote about, which the later gospels were based on.
The suggested timeline seems to be Jesus lived, people forgot about most of the stuff he did for many decades, then the gospels were written. That's not a great basis for any real historical accuracy.
2006-10-18 01:18:45 · answer #2 · answered by nondescript 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Out of context... A few minutes earlier, Jesus PREDICTED THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE LAW.
Matt 5:18...Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law UNTIL EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED.
2006-10-18 01:20:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perfect? Give me a break-Babble your bs some where else.
2006-10-18 01:19:50 · answer #4 · answered by super stud 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one I remember the most
Sell all you have a buy a sword.
2006-10-18 01:29:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋