Jesus Café Ministries - Scripture Squad

From: kit
What do you believe the bible verse (I think in book of Matthew?) means when it says "Be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect?" Who is this directed at and in what sense? I appreciate your response. : )

Hi kit,
The verse you are wondering about was directed at the disciples of Jesus (see Matt. 5:1). It's an interesting discourse, as in this particular section of the Bible, Jesus is contrasting what the disciples have always been taught with what He, the living Word of God, says needs to be done in certain situations.

This section also contains what are commonly called "The Beatitudes" (Matt. 5:4-12), as well as teaching on reconciliation, adultery, divorce, oaths, nonresistance, and love. He starts each section by saying, "You have heard it said________, but I say to you _______." His comments explained what God really meant by these statements.

When he says to the disciples, "Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." He is saying that if you want to be complete, or fully mature in your spiritual walk, you need to be doing the things he spoke of earlier in the chapter. In fact, the Greek word translated "perfect" is teleios (tel'-i-os) which means complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.) Completeness, translated in the KJV-of full age, man, perfect, per Strong's Concordance.

How can we be "perfect" or complete? Only by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as our human nature wants to go directly against those things which Jesus taught us to do.

- The Scripture Squad :
TCCaleb, WMomTCC & RuthCCC