Be Perfect

Yesterday we learned what it means to love your enemies, a command found in Matthew 5:44. 4 verses after the command to love your enemies, Jesus said,

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

What did He say to lead to this next command? In what context was Jesus talking, and how did Jesus go from the command "Love Your Enemies" to "Be Perfect"? Let's take a look:

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Clearly, Jesus was referring to being a respecter of persons. God is not a respecter of persons, causing rather his sun to rise on the evil and the good, the rain on the just and the unjust (See also II Chr. 19:7, Romans 2:11, Eph. 6:9 and Col. 3:25).

How do we apply the command to be perfect?
In verse 47, Jesus said, "And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" The word used here for "salute" is the Greek work aspazomai, which means "to enfold in the arms [of your heart], to joyfully, lovingly, and enthusiastically greet a person." We only have once chance to give a first impression and that chance often comes right at the moment of eye contact. In a split second, people can conclude whether or not you're sincerely interested in them. To apply Christ's command to be perfect, we should exercise immediate, enthusiastic and sincere interest in the lives of everyone we meet- whether they be poor, rich, sick, unpopular or attractive.

Why would Jesus command us to be perfect?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Our standard is always set by who God is. We shouldn't compare ourselves amongst friends in church, family members, co-workers or acquaintances; our standard is always God. So the most obvious reason why Jesus would command us to be perfect would be because we are to be as true and accurate examples of Christ as we possibly can be. Another reason Jesus would command us to be perfect is summed up in a quote by John C. Maxwell,

People don't care how much
you know until they know
how much you care!

Applying the command to be perfect by demonstrating no respect of persons by showing love and interest in everyone will cause others to be much more receptive to the Gospel when we have opportunities to share with them about the Lord.

What perspective should we have to help us keep this command?

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Ephesians 6:5-9

The key to demonstrating a perfect spirit to all whom we meet is to remember we are doing this as unto the Lord-- in return for the perfect enfolding of His love He has demonstrated to all who believe on Him. Jesus saved me when I was a sinner. I praise God that He is no respecter of persons, and I joyfully strive to express my gratefulness to the Lord for what He's done for me by imitating His unconditional love as well as I can to everyone I meet.

Verses to Memorize:

II Chronicles 16:9a
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Colossians 1:28-29
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Philippians 3:15-16
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.