Matthew 5:48
2006-11-12 12:10:34 · 21 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You've quoted from the passage which is called " the Sermon on the Mount".
If you read the whole of Mt Ch 5 to Ch 7, you will see that Jesus was teaching the people how to live their lives in a way that pleases God.
Beware of taking just one or two isolated verses in the Bible and forming a doctrine or blowing it out of context. You must always read the verses or even chapters surrounding the verse to understand what Jesus is saying or teaching .
We live in an imperfect world. That's why "bad things" sometimes happen to 'good people'. On the other hand, good things can also happen to bad people. The crook you know can strike first prize in the next lottery. Don't be surprised or envious if this happens. The very 'good' Christian or non-believer ( never assume non-Christians cannot be good or moral) can sometimes face 'tragic circumstances' through no fault of their own. Only God understands why. Man can never fully comprehend everything.
So God knows full well we live in an imperfect world and on top of that , we humans are imperfect or far from perfect. Otherwise, we are not called 'humans' we will be called 'gods'.
Therefore the word perfect here cannot be referring to 'does not make mistakes ' . The dictionary of perfect , by the way, also means 'total or complete'. It has some similarity to the word 'integrity' which also means 'being whole or unified'.
Check it out for yourself before you start arguing with me. It's like saying you must be holy even as God is holy.
Holy means 'set apart for God's exclusive use ". This is how Bible school teachers interpret the word 'Holy'.
Refer to Lev 19:2 and 2 Pet 3:11
Jesus is refering to the fact that we have to be 'holy' , meaning to live our lives like we are for God's exclusive use. A lifestlye not consistent with the Bible surely is not included here. Why should God use an 'unholy vessel' that does not reflect His glory ?
2006-11-12 12:42:46 · answer #1 · answered by Toshihiro 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Read the vdrses before for context -
[44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
[45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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.
[46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
[47] And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
[48] You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
He is telling us to strive to do our best in all things that God would have us do.
2006-11-12 12:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
God's emphasis is on what you are, rather than what you do. For example, the word "repent" means to change the way you think, rather than change your actions. Why? Because who you are determines what you do; your attitude governs your actions. Matthew 5:48 says to be perfect, not do perfectly.
2006-11-12 12:18:15 · answer #3 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The context of chapter five has Jesus discussing the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders. In public they acted very god-fearing and spiritual but for most it was only skin deep. They went through the motions of religiosity thinking that mere behavior modification is what pleases God. God would be satisfied. The point Jesus is making is that such religious leaders have mistrepresented who God is. They have represented him with behavior that is inconsistent. That is why Jesus says to be perfect like your Father is perfect. In other words, don't be hypocritical, be like God. It is not an expectation to achieve moral perfection. It is an expectation to strive for moral perfection. Hypocrisy is moral imperfection. Selfless love is moral perfection.
2006-11-12 12:36:52 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel M 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It means that Christians do not have a license to sin as a good many believe they do. It means that God holds the Christian to a much higher standard than the unbeliever. It means Christians are not to deleberatly sin and do wrong. the Christian should obey traffic laws especially since so many people die due to red light runners and speeders. It means the Christian should be first to obey rules at work and not sneak around and play chess at work and break other rules. It means if you are going to claim to be Christian, then you have a responsibility to do what God commands.
2006-11-12 12:23:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It means that through Jesus and the holy spirit would should try with all our strength to live as Jesus but we will fall In Romans Paul says that we all fall short of god's glorious standards
2006-11-12 12:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by Eric M. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is only one way to become perfect and that is to become a member of the Body of Christ. We must put our old self to death with him on the cross and rise to new life with him. Repent and become baptized.
2006-11-12 12:49:38 · answer #7 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its saying that you MUST follow Gods words in the Bible and not mans.It means that he has left you with enough evidence to show you just how loving he is and now you must also be likewise. Read the whole chapter.
2006-11-12 12:18:13 · answer #8 · answered by ~♥ L ♥~ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think Jesus is saying that God's standard is perfection or holiness. In fact, we can't reach this standard but by accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour we have His perfection, holiness and righteousness and so are acceptable to God.
2006-11-12 12:16:26 · answer #9 · answered by rochelleslomovits 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Strive for perfection. To be in everyway as the Father is. rely on Christ to make you truly perfect because his sacrifice covers all sins
2006-11-12 12:13:22 · answer #10 · answered by deal 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋