Be Perfect as Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect
Jesus' command to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" in Matthew 5:48 sets a high standard for His followers. The perfection He calls for is not simply about outward compliance with laws but reflects the divine nature of God Himself—holy, pure, and just. Jesus' teaching challenges the religious leaders' emphasis on the external observance of the law, pointing instead to an inner righteousness that governs thoughts, motives, and actions.
For instance, He equates anger and contempt with murder (Matthew 5:21–22): "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court; and anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." And lustful thoughts with adultery (Matthew 5:27–28): "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
True righteousness, as taught by Jesus, requires more than just refraining from sin; it demands a heart of love and selflessness, extending even to those who oppose us.
Loving and praying for enemies is a direct expression of God's unconditional love, which His followers are called to embody (Matthew 5:38–48): "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
However, while Jesus calls His followers to perfection, the reality of human sinfulness makes this standard unattainable through human effort alone. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:10: "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one.'" The law, as revealed in the Scriptures, shows humanity's inability to meet God's perfect standard, serving as a mirror that reflects our need for grace. This understanding leads us to the gospel: salvation is not for those who are "good enough," but for those who trust in God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In John 3:16–18, we read: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." Likewise, Titus 3:5 reminds us: "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." It is through faith in Christ that believers receive righteousness, not as a result of their own efforts but as a gift from God (Romans 3:23–25): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished."
Thus, while Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5 highlight the perfection God requires, they also point to the reality that no one can achieve this on their own. The perfection demanded by God is only possible through the gift of righteousness given by faith in Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of the New Testament's message. This imputed righteousness allows believers to stand justified before God, even as they strive to live according to His commands.