Even for those of us who by nature are perhaps not perfectionists. If we read it for what Jesus is saying, this should make us tremble. It's not just the end of our particular passage, it's really the end, the conclusion of what we've been studying in Matthew five since verse 17, as Jesus talked about the requirements of the Law of God on us. Jesus says, "You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." And moreover, this here is the conclusion to everything that Jesus is teaching us about the law. It isn't something we can ignore, something we can sidestep. What does it mean to be perfect? Now, this is something we have to really wrestle with because this is something here that Jesus gives to us. If that person is truly knowing and following the Lord Jesus again, I guarantee you that person could tell you better than you might imagine, all the ways in which they fall short of perfection in the corruption of sin, in the flesh. Or maybe spiritually, you say this person acts the right way, speaks the right way with complete humility. I guarantee you they could tell you all the ways their lives are not perfect. They have the right job, the right family, the right money. What would it mean to be perfect? If I asked you what is a perfect life? Maybe you have someone in your mind whose life externally is perfect. Certainly none of us human beings have done it, outside of one the Lord Jesus, the one who is speaking to us here. No sporting team of any kind has done it. What does it mean to be perfect? No football team has done it. They were perfect compared to other teams, but they weren't perfect. Even they let big plays go, fumbled the ball, threw interceptions. My mom always insisted that she had Tom Osborne's sideline phone number and wanted to call him in the middle of the game. I remember sitting through some of those games, my parents and I yelling all at the television trying to get them to do better. We used to talk about perfection in terms of those teams in the nineties, especially that '95 Nebraska team, one of if not the best football teams ever to play the game, they were perfect. That'd be perfect if we could just have that. We just love a winning season, maybe a good bowl game. No losses there, right? Although we're realistic, if you would ask an average Cornhusker fan, what would a perfect season be? We don't want too much. You're also despairing whatever's to come, because, you know, perfection is something that you've always pursued and never accomplished.Īs a Cornhusker football fan, this is my absolute favorite time of year because my team is undefeated. Or maybe if I say the word perfect, some of you are perfectionists are starting to twitch out there, your hearts are strangely warmed and motivated because you want to make the grade. What does it mean to be perfect? Jesus says it right here, "You must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Perfect is a word that we throw around. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God endures forever. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, 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. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Hear know the word of the Lord from Matthew 5:43-48.Ĥ3 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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.
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