Friday 14 February 2025
"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (v. 48)
Background
Taken out of the context of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, verse 48 presents us with difficulties. Taken as a verse on its own, it seems to beg of the Christian something that's impossible – to be perfect.
I suggest you read the whole of chapter 5 in Matthew's Gospel. Without that, we misunderstand our calling and are led to trying to achieve something which is far beyond us. It leads to us interpreting the verse in terms of human understanding rather than God’s call to "be perfect … as your heavenly Father is perfect."
From the Old Testament writer of Ecclesiastes, through to the words of Jesus and then the teaching of Saint Paul it seems clear that this ‘perfection’ is about being fully ourselves as God created us to be, whatever that means.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 says: "Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning."
As noted above, Jesus in Matthew 5:48 says: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Paul writing in his letter to the Philippians Philippians 3:12-15 says: "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you."
We bring our whole selves to God to be used in God's service for the good of all, offering truth, hope, justice and love by simply being ourselves and becoming transformed in the process.
This is the perfection to which we are called – being ourselves in God’s image. It may not be what we see in ourselves, but it is deeply what God sees in us.
Listen:
‘Perfection’ by Switch.
To Ponder:
- How can I see better what God sees in me?
- What does it mean for me to reflect God’s ways of love, hope, peace and justice?
Prayer
Dear Lord, here I am, just as I am. Thank you that you see me as whole, just as I am. Help me to see the same as I seek to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Andy Fyall
The Revd Andy Fyall is Chair of the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District.