Jesus Said "Be perfect." Who Says You Can't?

Mat.5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Who commanded people to be perfect? Jesus said (Mat.5:48), "Be ye therefore perfect. . ." In Joh.14:15 he states, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

What is the standard of perfection? Mat.5:48, ". . .even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." That is, God Almighty. Also, Eph.4:13 shows we can all come to "a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Col.2:9, Ph'p.2:5, Eph.3:19).

What kind of perfection is that? Spiritual perfection because (Joh.4:24) "God is a spirit."

Where is perfection? In the mind (1Co.1:10, Ph'p.3:15).

So the Bible speaks of a spiritual, mental perfection. From the Greek words that were translated to read "perfection," "perfect," etc., we can see that perfection refers to a completeness, a mental and moral perfection.

Who was made perfect?

• Jesus (Heb.2:10; 5:9; Luk.13:32)
• The apostles (Joh.17:23).
• Just (righteous) men (Heb.12:23) under the new covenant (Heb.7:11,19; 10:1; 9:9).
• People of the early church (1Co.2:6, present tense; Col.4:12).

People have taught that Jesus was the only one that could be perfect, claiming that he was born perfect. "Made perfect" (Heb.5:9) does not mean born perfect because in Luk.13:32 he said (future tense) "I shall be perfected." Also, Heb.2:10 shows God would make Christ perfect through sufferings. 1Pt.5:10 states, ". . . after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect. . . " The process that Jesus went through to be made perfect is the same process we are to go through. We, too, must suffer awhile before we can become perfect. This shows a progressive work that anyone (including Jesus) goes through in order to be "made perfect." See also Heb.5:7-9.

Who taught perfection?

• Jesus (Mat.5:48; Luk.8:14; 6:40; Mat.19:21).
• Paul (Col.1:28; 2Co.13:9,11; Eph.4:13).
• James (Jam.1:4; 3:2).
• Peter (1Pt.5:10).
• John (1Jo.4:17).
• Writer of Hebrews (Heb.6:1), doctrine of perfection (not imperfection).

What tools can help us be perfect?

• The voice gifts (Eph.4:8,11-13).
• All scripture (2Ti.3:16,17).
• The blood of the everlasting covenant (new testament) (Heb.13:20,21). Heb.10:29 shows that the blood of the covenant is the spirit of grace. Rom.6:14 says grace can help us be free from sin.
• Patience (Jam.1:4).
• Understanding (Mat.13:19,23; Luk.8:14).

What things can be perfected?

• Faith (Jam.2:22, 1Th.3:10).
• Work(s) (Heb.13:21, Jam.1:4, Rev.3:2).
• Strength (2Co.12:9).
• Praise (Mat.21:16).
• Holiness (2Co.7:1).
• Love (1Jo.2:5; 4:12,17,18).

For those who say you can't be perfect, please consider these questions:

1. Do you hold Jesus as your example? If so, why do you not follow him in perfection?
2. Where does it say in the Bible that you can't be perfect in this life?
3. Why do you wish to prove the Bible doesn't teach perfection in this life?