What did Jesus mean when He said be perfect?

When Jesus said, “Be perfect,” it was part of His Sermon on the Mount, a collection of teachings that laid out the ethical and spiritual expectations for those who followed Him. Specifically, this command is found in Matthew 5:48 (NKJV), where Jesus says:

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

This verse is often a source of contemplation and concern for Christians. What does Jesus mean by “perfect”? Does He expect His followers to be morally flawless, like God Himself? In this study, we will explore the biblical meaning of the word “perfect” as used in this context, examine how Jesus’s teaching aligns with the rest of Scripture, and discuss what it means for Christians today.

Understanding “Perfect” in the Biblical Context

The word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 is translated from the Greek word “teleios,” which can mean “complete,” “mature,” or “whole.” It doesn’t necessarily imply moral or ethical flawlessness, as we might interpret the word “perfect” in modern English. Rather, perfect refers to completeness or maturity, particularly in terms of spiritual growth and character.

Jesus was calling His followers to pursue a level of spiritual maturity that reflects the character of God, especially in their capacity to love others. This is evident from the context of the verse itself, which comes at the end of a passage where Jesus is teaching about love for enemies:

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44-48, NKJV)

In this passage, Jesus calls His followers to love in a way that goes beyond the natural human inclination to love those who love us. He points to God’s example, showing that God loves and cares for all people, even those who oppose Him. To “be perfect” like the Father, then, means to emulate God’s character, especially in the area of love.

The Hebrew word tam, translated in Job 1:1 as “blameless” in the NKJV and “perfect” in the KJV has a number of different usages. The word, or one of its derivatives, is used in Genesis 17:1 (NKJV) where God told Abraham to “be blameless.” And all Israel was instructed to “be blameless” in verses such as Deuteronomy 18:13; 2 Samuel 22:33; and Psalms 101:2,6. In that sense, the prophet Abraham was righteous (Genesis 15:6). Also, the book of Luke records that Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were righteous, and God-honoring people (Luke 1:6, NKJV).

Obviously, then, the Hebrew words in Job 1:1 and Luke 1:6 are used to describe people who are attempting to follow God’s commandments to the best of their ability. In that sense, Paul speaks of them “who are mature” (1 Corinthians 2:6, NKJV) and of “as many as are mature” (Philippians 3:15, NKJV). At the same time, he realizes that there are new heights to gain and that he himself has not reached the ultimate perfection (Philippians 3:12-14). Job, Abraham, Zechariah. and Elizabeth were straight, just and right in their loyalty and devotion to God. Thus, people by the grace and power of God can become righteous on this earth (Philippians 4:13).

The Call to Christlike Character

Jesus’s call to be “perfect” is ultimately a call to Christlike character, and the Sermon on the Mount provides a comprehensive view of what that character looks like. It is not merely about following a set of moral rules but about embodying the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus outlined in the Beatitudes and the subsequent teachings.

The pursuit of perfection, or completeness, involves:

Humility: Recognizing our spiritual poverty and dependence on God (Matthew 5:3).
Mercy: Showing compassion to others, even when they don’t deserve it (Matthew 5:7).
Purity of heart: Seeking God with sincerity and truth, free from hypocrisy (Matthew 5:8).
Peacemaking: Actively working to reconcile and promote harmony (Matthew 5:9).
Endurance in persecution: Bearing hardship for the sake of righteousness with grace and love (Matthew 5:10-12).

These traits reflect the heart and mind of Christ, who perfectly exemplified them in His own life. Jesus is the ultimate model of what it means to “be perfect” because He demonstrated perfect love, perfect obedience to the Father, and perfect submission to God’s will.

God’s Standard of Holiness

The command to “be perfect” also reflects God’s standard of holiness for His people. Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to be holy as He is holy. In Leviticus 19:2 (NKJV), God commands the Israelites:

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.'”

This standard of holiness is not new with Jesus. It is rooted in the character of God and His desire for His people to reflect His holiness in their lives. However, it is important to note that holiness, like perfection, is not about sinless perfection but about being set apart for God’s purposes. It is about living in a way that honors God and reflects His nature to the world.

The apostle Peter echoes this call to holiness in the New Testament, reminding believers of their calling to live lives that reflect God’s character:

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:15-16, NKJV)

Thus, Jesus’s command to “be perfect” is consistent with the biblical theme of holiness. It is a call to live in a way that reflects God’s character, particularly in the area of love and moral purity.

The Role of Grace in Christian Perfection

One of the most important aspects of understanding Jesus’s command to “be perfect” is recognizing the role of God’s grace in the believer’s life. While Jesus calls His followers to pursue perfection, He also knows that human beings are incapable of achieving moral flawlessness on their own. This is where God’s grace comes into play.

The apostle Paul speaks extensively about the role of grace in the Christian life. In Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV), he writes:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Salvation and spiritual growth are not the result of human effort but of God’s grace working in the believer’s life. While Christians are called to pursue holiness and perfection, it is only through God’s grace and the empowering of the Holy Spirit that they can grow in Christlikeness.

Paul also speaks of the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer in Philippians 1:6 (NKJV):

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

This verse highlights that spiritual growth is a process. God is at work in the life of the believer, gradually transforming them into the image of Christ. While perfection in the absolute sense will not be achieved in this life, Christians can be confident that God will bring His work to completion.

Jesus and the Pursuit of Perfection

Jesus’s own life and ministry provide the ultimate example of what it means to “be perfect.” He demonstrated perfect love, obedience, and submission to the Father’s will, even to the point of death on the cross. As believers, we are called to follow His example and to pursue Christlikeness in all areas of life.

In Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV), Paul urges believers to adopt the mindset of Christ:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Jesus’s humility and obedience are central to His perfection, and they are qualities that believers are called to imitate. The pursuit of perfection, then, is not about striving for sinless moral perfection, but about growing in humility, love, and obedience to God’s will.

The Role of Love in Perfection

A key aspect of Jesus’s teaching about perfection is the emphasis on love. In Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV), Jesus teaches,

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Here Jesus summarizes the first 4 commandments in God’s moral law that deal with out relationship to the Creator (Exodus 20:2-11) by love to God and the last 6 commandments that deal with our relationship to others (Exodus 12-17) by love to man. Thus, love is the summary of God’s moral law.

The Bible teaches in 1 John 5:3 (NKJV):

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

Conclusion

When Jesus said, “Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect,” He was calling His followers to a life of spiritual maturity, love, and holiness. The perfection that Jesus speaks of is not about sinless moral flawlessness but about completeness in love to God and man.

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