Be Perfect?!

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

 

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48, NIV).

“Be perfect.” That’s a pretty tall order, isn’t it? At first glance, it might seem that way. However, if we dig a little deeper by taking a look at the original Greek, it will make a whole lot more sense.

First of all, the above verse is a direct quote of Jesus. Out of His mouth also came these words: “No one is good—except God alone” (Mark 10:18, NIV). Jesus knew perfectly well that we humans are not “good” …much less “perfect.”

So what did He mean, then, summoning us to perfection? The original Greek word there translated “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 is teleios. Strong’s gives us this understanding about this word: “full grown, of full age; complete.”

Jesus was not commanding us to achieve the unachievable. He was not unrealistically asking us to arrive at flawlessness this side of heaven. Instead, He was inviting us on a growth journey.

To understand this better, let’s take a look at the context of this “be perfect” passage. A few verses earlier, Jesus teaches us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (v. 44). I’ll tell you, there’s no quicker way to grow spiritually than to allow Holy Spirit to work love for our enemies into the core of our being.

Every time we are mistreated, it’s an opportunity to move forward in the growth journey Jesus beckoned us into. When we run to God with our difficult emotions, He runs towards us too. When we invite Holy Spirit to wash away bitterness and replace it with supernatural love, that accelerates our growth. When we intentionally lift up in prayer that hard-to-love individual, it changes us.

I heard a well-known minister say that he prays daily for those that defame him. He lifts them up into the presence of God and asks that they would know the joy of their children and grandchildren walking closely with Jesus. He shares his conviction about this with such genuine gentleness in his voice. It’s really quite stunning.

Only Holy Spirit can do a work like this in us. He will, when we ask Him to. He is the One who will bring us on into being of “full age” in Christ. He is the One who will grow us up into maturity.

We learn more about this growth process from James. He uses this same Greek word, teleios, in his famous instruction about hardships: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds… Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature (teleios) and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2,4, NIV).

Do you see that? God’s goal is that we would be mature and complete. Allowing Holy Spirit to grow us up in this way is the most amazing thing that could happen to any of us. “Not lacking anything.” That’s a true possibility… else it wouldn’t be in Scripture! God doesn’t make false promises.

There is something deeply, beautifully peaceful about maturity in Jesus. The stability and strength that comes with it is precious, infinitely beyond what gold and silver could ever acquire. This is what Holy Spirit meant when He said, “Nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov. 3:15, NIV).

What about perfection, then? Well, flawlessness is not attainable this side of heaven. The amazing news is, though, that maturity in Jesus is.

 **********************

 Are we, as the Body of Christ, loving our enemies? Are we earnestly praying for the joy and blessing of those with opposite political views?

 

12 thoughts on “Be Perfect?!”

  1. “Jesus was not commanding us to achieve the unachievable. He was not unrealistically asking us to arrive at flawlessness this side of heaven. Instead, He was inviting us on a growth journey.” this is why word studies are so important!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  2. Though I love the phrase “He invites us on a growth journey”. and will remember it, I do believe there is something more. These verses, like diamonds show a different facet of the truth, each time the light shines through it at a different angle. Yes, perfection is unattainable and yet Christ ends by saying, “As your Father in Heaven is perfect”. To be like the Father, implies something more than just growth here. Jesus is also calling for us to allow the perfect love and mercy of our Father to become ours. How that happens is both a mystery and a miracle that takes a lifetime to even begin to discover. Blessings Jennifer, and have a great weekend!

    Like

    Reply

    1. That is very beautiful insight, Pastor Pete. I actually, upon writing this post, was seriously contemplating writing a follow-up to it, because I also had the sense that there was more facets Holy Spirit wanted to bring out. You are verbalizing something very similar to what was on my heart for this. Would you be comfortable if I quote you in the follow-up post? Feel totally free to say yes or no 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Chewing on this some more as I am writing up the follow-up post. It strikes me that allowing the perfect love of the Father to become ours is the ultimate way to grow! As we ask Him to put that perfect love into us, that will be such an integral part of the sanctification journey by which every day we are resembling Him more. Thank you again so much for sharing your wisdom here, my brother. And thank you so much for allowing me to share your insightful words in my next post!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. Amen! Amen! Amen! Yes! Yes! Yes! I have heard that minister say that as humbly, gently, and powerfully as you have described, and it has marked me! Maturity in Christ is costly, yet worth it! He alone is worthy!!! Hallelujah!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. We praise His name forever! I’m so glad you have been as blessed by him as I have. He’s probably my favorite preacher, ever. I listen to him or Jim Goll every night as I am going to sleep. They are both so gentle.

      Like

      Reply
  4. Pingback: You Are Complete… in Jesus! – Feeding On Jesus

Leave a comment