BE PERFECT AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT

Matthew 5:17-48
Key Verse 5:48

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

In today’s passage Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches us directly what standard of righteousness believers must live up to. It is the absolute standard of the kingdom of heaven. This is what it means to live as a Christian in this world. What is the standard? Our key verse, verse 48, says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Be perfect. Wow. And not just by comparing to others (by human standards). But, be perfect “as your heavenly Father is perfect.” We tend to excuse ourselves by saying, “Nobody is perfect. So leave me alone.” But there is no room for excuses before the Son of God today. 

It is our normal inclination to judge ourselves according to our outward actions. But God's standard is that we challenge ourselves inwardly, looking at what is done in the heart. It demands that we strive for this highest, absolute standard, God's perfection, and not anything less. If we really mean business to know God and enjoy his kingdom, then the only way to strive for this highest standard is to rely on and draw close to our Lord Jesus and our heavenly Father. As we study this passage, we want to learn how we can reach this highest goal and live by this absolute standard daily in Jesus Christ. Let's listen to Jesus' teaching carefully so that we can really live as children of God that please and glorify our Father in heaven.

I. Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets (17-20)

Verses 17-20 tell us why we have been given this ‘perfect’ standard. God our heavenly Father is perfect. And he wants to bless his children to rise to his level. He does not compromise at all with what is best. And Jesus was working for this absolute blessing. 

Look at verses 17-18. "17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

The Law and the Prophets refer to the Old Testament Scriptures. It contains the laws that Moses gave the people as well as the prophetic writings inspired by the Holy Spirit which were given long ago. Jesus did not come to do away with them. At this time, Jesus was teaching on a mountain side to his disciples. But it was not just his disciples who came to listen to his teaching, but large crowds of people. Many people were amazed at Jesus' teaching. What Jesus taught and did was very different from their religious leaders. They thought that he was deviating from the Law and the Prophets. They witnessed Jesus doing things differently than what the religious leaders taught, such as healing people on the Sabbath and eating and drinking with 'sinners'. They thought that he had a new teaching and with authority! (cf. Mark 1:27). 

But Jesus makes clear that he did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them (17). God's word is not something that can be done away with. "Until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." The word "fulfill" has the meaning of "accomplish" or "give the full meaning of." Two phrases we’ve seen repeated throughout Matthew’s gospel so far is, “as it is written,” and, “to fulfill what was said through the prophet…” (1:23; 2:5-6; 2:17-18; 2:23; 4:14-16). Through his life Jesus was fulfilling the words of God in the Law and the prophets, accomplishing the events that were spoken of long ago, such as his virgin birth, his escape to Egypt, his growing up in Nazareth, and his ministry in Galilee. And Matthew is going to keep mentioning Jesus' fulfilling the law and prophets to the end of his gospel. All of the Bible speaks about Jesus Christ. In fact, after his resurrection, he taught about his life according to the Scriptures alone. Luke 24:25-27 reads: "25He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." In this way, Jesus was fulfilling and accomplishing the word of God.

Jesus also fulfilled the law in meeting all of its righteous requirements. Jesus kept all of the law God required in perfect obedience. He was found sinless and righteous. He even paid the righteous requirements of the law for sinners when he died on the cross. In coming to fulfill the law, Jesus was made under law and he met all the law’s righteous requirements as no man had done. Therefore, Jesus alone could fulfill the Law and the Prophets and give their full meaning, as only the Son of God could do. Now, this passage focuses on Jesus' teaching about God's law and righteousness, which gives us the full meaning of what was written. Jesus fulfilled the law not just for his own sake, but for us. Therefore, all believers, all disciples of Jesus, must live by God's law and fulfill it in their lives as well. Maybe some people thought that they could be free from the law if they followed Jesus, including some of the disciples. In fact, many people think this same thing today, saying that Jesus is graceful and merciful, so God's law doesn't apply to them. But the definition of sin is lawlessness. But what does Jesus say here?

Look at verses 19-20. "19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

To be called "great" in the kingdom of heaven, that is, to be found worthy in God's eyes of the kingdom of heaven, we have keep even the least of these commands and teach others to do the same. The word "breaks" here, means either to outright break the commandment and teach others to do the same, or "relax" it, or water it down, and teach others a compromised version. In fact, Jesus says more clearly, that unless our righteousness in regards to the word of God surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, we will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Keeping the word of God is not just a good suggestion, or just for some people. If you want to enter the kingdom of heaven, your righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.

This is shocking! The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law were seen as the most righteous people, who were highly honored and respected by everyone. The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law had devoted themselves to studying and obeying the word of God, especially Moses' Law. They had trained since childhood to memorize and learn how to obey all the law. They wrote numerous books about what it means to obey the law and totally exhausted what it meant to obey the law outwardly. Fishermen like Peter and John could not compare with them at all. We could not compare with their zeal for the law at all. People thought that they were not obligated to live such a life as strict as a Pharisee. So it is just as shocking that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless our righteousness surpasses theirs! If the Pharisees fasted twice a week, must we fast three times a week? If they could not enter the kingdom of heaven by their righteousness, then who can enter? Despite their great efforts, somewhere along the line the missed the real point. From this point on, Jesus teaches the full meaning of the Law, so that we can know how to keep it just as God has intended for us to do, so that we will not fall short of it.

II. The full meaning of the law (21-48)

In verses 21-48 Jesus gives the full meaning of the law. He uses a frame saying, "You have heard it was said..." and follows up with, "But I tell you..." He uses this frame six times in this passage, at the beginning of each teaching. Jesus was not changing the laws God had given, but is now giving us the right teaching about God's law, it's full meaning.

(1) Murder and Anger
Jesus begins with the teaching about murder. Murder is a very serious crime again others and against God. God made man in the image of God. Even before a formal law was given, God told us at the time of Noah after the flood, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man" (Genesis 9:6).

Look at verses 21. "21You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' " And so they taught that if anyone murders he will be subject to judgment. At face value, do not murder simply means to not kill somebody. And so if you did not murder anyone, you felt that you had kept God's law and were righteous. But what does Jesus say? Look at verse 22. "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Here Jesus teaches that anger and hatred will receive the judgment for murder--meaning that it is the same. What a high standard that challenges what goes on in a person's heart! I can't give you the judgment for murder unless you have committed murder. But Jesus says here, "Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to the judgment for murder." To assign the judgment for murder for your actions means that what you are doing is murder. The Apostle John, one of Jesus' disciples who was at this very mountain and heard all of Jesus' teaching, came to understand Jesus' full meaning and said to the churches in 1 John 3:15, "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." Is God going to reward you in heaven for not murdering outwardly, although you murdered on the inside? No.

Jesus even gives the example of cursing someone else out of anger. In those days there was a word "Raca". It was a bad word. It was such a bad word that if you said "Raca" to somebody, they could take you court where you would receive judgment. But if you said, "You fool!" there was no consequence. I have to confess my own shortcomings in this area. During my commute to and from work each day, I probably spit out 5-10 Racas. Jesus gets at the heart of the matter. In this case, different words are used, but they had the same intentions in the heart. He strictly warns that anyone who lives by their anger will be in danger of the fire of hell!

Did Jesus change the command? No. He gives it its full meaning. Do not murder means just that, do not murder, whether outwardly or inwardly. Hatred and anger towards others is just as bad as murder. When we think about the command, "Do not murder," from Jesus' point of view, we cannot say so quickly and confidently, "I have kept this command and not murdered." Rather, our answer is, "O Lord, have mercy!" We become the blessed people who are poor in spirit and mourn (5:3-4). But Jesus does not want us to stop there. He wants us to live up to the full meaning of the law. The spirit of God's law demands that we have to strive to make our hearts right and free from anger and murder. Not just by thinking about it or even bringing a gift or offering to God, but by taking action to root out that anger.

Look at verses 23-24. "23Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." We have to make a positive action to be reconciled to our brothers whom we are angry with. Our gifts are not going to be acceptable to God if our hearts are like a murderers. And if someone is justly angry with us, we need to be make every effort to be reconciled to them as well, or we may be justly punished. Whether we feel that we are right or wrong in the situation, we must make every effort first to be reconciled. Then God will be pleased with our gifts and offerings, and we will begin to grow in the image of our heavenly Father and be changed from the inside out.

Here we can see a picture of the difference between the previous teaching and Jesus' standard. The first case doesn't demand to be perfect inwardly, only outwardly. So you have people smiling politely, but inwardly murderers. And when you see that one certain person, you get hot inside. But by striving and aiming for Jesus' standard, there is true reconciliation and free hearts. And will be pleased and accepted by God.

So we can see clearly where the teachers of the law fell short of the full meaning of God's law. They regarded God's law as just the bare minimum they had to keep. They regarded God's law as a checklist of dos and don'ts. When they just saw it as the minimum standard to keep, they judged themselves according to what they had done outwardly and had their own righteousness, and they were satisfied. So, even in their zeal for the law, they didn't help people on the Sabbath under the excuse that it was work. Or, they did work on the Sabbath under the excuse that they had to keep the law of circumcising a boy on the eighth day. When Jesus helped people on the Sabbath, they only saw him as a law breaker and wanted to kill him. They became murderers because of their wrong understanding about God's law. But Jesus teaches us to look at the law in a very different way. It's the highest law or standard that we have to strive to live up to. God's law demands that we check what is happening on the inside with the highest strictness as we do our outward actions, for they are evenly judged.

(2) Adultery and Lust
Next Jesus teaches about adultery. Look at verses 27-28. "27You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." In regards to adultery, Jesus teaches the same principle about God's law as he did with murder and anger. Many people would say, "I have never committed adultery." But Jesus mentions very specifically, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." He has already committed adultery with her. What takes place in the heart is just as bad as if the body committed such an action. Adultery is adultery, whether done in the heart or done outwardly with your body.

Billy Graham defined looking lustfully as even taking a second look. We know what he is talking about. 1 Timothy 5:1-2 say: “ 1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” Looking at another person in any way or for any duration below the level of absolute purity is looking lustfully. It is our natural inclination to think that entertaining lustful thoughts or sexual fantasies, or even that quick second look, in our minds or hearts or even watching pornography is okay, because we are not doing anything outwardly or hurting anyone. In regards to lust, we have to see that it is the same as adultery and strive to the highest standard in dealing with it. We have to learn absolute purity in heart, mind and body. In the same way as the previous teaching, Jesus wants us to make every effort to keep this command, both inwardly and outwardly, because there is a clear warning for those who entertain lust in their hearts: "hell".

What can we do then? Look at verses 29-30. "29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." We have to do whatever it takes not to commit this sin. But before you take your eye out or cut off your hand, it is better to first cut off the bad environments first and to run away from temptation. For even if you gouge out your eye, or cut off your hand, and you did not learn purity, lust will still bother you. Again, what a difference we see in the heart and actions of a person striving for the perfect standard Jesus puts forth compared to just following the letter of the law at face value. This reminds us of the Psalmist who said, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word" (Psalm 119:9). He found out that a young man has the most difficult trouble to keep his way pure. It is a serious thing. But when he lived by the word of God, he found out the real way to live a pure life. Thank God.

(3) Divorce and Certificates
Look at verses 31-32. "31It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery." Divorce is also related to adultery. In the past, certificates were given to protect women and give them rights to a life if their husbands sent them away. But the people used this idea of divorce certificates to justify marrying and divorcing according to their pleasure and convenience. Their hearts were not concerned about God or marriage, but saw certificates as a legal way out. But in the beginning God made the two one. A certificate does not undo God's work in marriage to make the two one.

(4) Oaths and Swearing
Next Jesus teaches about being truthful. Look at 33-37. "33Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

The people were taught that they had to tell the truth and keep their promises to the Lord if they made an oath. But Jesus teaches to simply let your "Yes" be "Yes", and your "No", "No." Again, Jesus demands perfection from the inside out. We shouldn't just keep certain promises to God or only tell the truth when under oath, but have the attitude of being truthful all the time, so that your "Yes" demonstrates as much truth and honesty as a "Yes" made under oath. For example, if you go to court and have to testify, you take your an oath first, "Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" And you say, "I do." We feel pressured and scared to make sure we tell just the truth. But we should be honest all the time without relying on oaths. We should keep all promises made to others and to God. Even though the people made oaths about marriage, they felt free to break them because of a certificate. That is wrong.

(5) Love Your Enemies
Finally, Jesus teaches us how to uphold God's law in dealing with evil and wicked people. Look at verses 38-42. "38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

The command eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, was given to create boundaries in times of legal retribution, usually in cases where others were accidentally injured or had damaged property. But people used this command to seek out retribution. They used it to justify the raging flames of vengeance in their hearts which led them to do evil back to the person who first wronged them, saying that it was fair. Of course, we feel wronged when evil people take valuable things from us by force. But Jesus teaches, "Do not resist an evil person," based on the command, "eye for eye, and tooth for tooth." The law was not intended to encourage revenge and to motivate people to pay evil for evil. We must learn to overcome evil with good. To really obey Jesus' teaching here often means to give up something valuable for the sake of doing good to evil people.

Why? Here Jesus teaches the underlying principle which was stated in the command, "Love your neighbor." Look at verses 43-45. "43You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." The command to love your neighbor as yourself is in the Old Testament Law, but "hate your enemy" is not. Actually, the command to love your neighbor as yourself is the underlying principle of all of God's law that Jesus teaches about in this passage, and it extends even to our enemies and those who do evil to us. This is the mark of a child of our heavenly Father.

We take common things, like the sun shine and the rain, for granted. California is called the sunshine state. It is October, yet it was 101°F (39°C). Is it because there are a lot of righteous people living in California? No way. But "he makes his sun" shine on both the good and the evil, and "he sends his rain" and the righteous and the unrighteous. It is because God loves all the evil people in California. And even God, our Father in heaven, loves his enemies to the point that he overcomes our great evil with unfathomable good. If he wanted, he could make the sun shine only on whom he wants. But in the sunshine and in the rain, we see a picture of God's holiness and perfection. And it is this high standard that his children must live up to. Anything short of this is just what unbelieving people do. Even evil people love those who love them and are kind to those who are kind to them. But who can love their enemies? God and his children of God. We must not just do good to others, but we must go to the highest standard, which is to love them and pray for our enemies. God's children must rise to the standard that is above the ways of this world. We must do more.

Look at verse 48. Jesus' conclusion is, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." So how can we be perfect? Is it just through following the new teachings Jesus gave, just changing our actions? No. Because that would mean that we could fulfill the law on our own and be righteous before God. But this passage says that Jesus came to fulfill the law and accomplish everything written in it. In fulfilling the law, Jesus was also made under the law--that is, he was subject to the law completely, including its judgment. Galatians 4:4-5 say: "4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." When he suffered death on the cross, he took up all the righteous requirements of the law to sinners. Why? It was not just to bring righteousness for himself, but to bring righteousness for all of us, that we may become children of God. And if we are children of God in this sense, then it is our highest obligation in Jesus to uphold God's law and his righteousness, making every effort to be like our heavenly Father. It is only possible through faith in Jesus who fulfills the law by grace to us. It is only possible by the working of the Holy Spirit's power in us. When we strive to keep God's righteous law as Jesus teaches, we rely on Jesus, pray to Jesus, give glory to Jesus, and submit to Jesus so that he can work by the power of the Spirit on our inner condition and desires, as well as outward actions as the fruit of real change.

May God help us to strive to the highest standard, to grow in his image and ways, as Jesus teaches today, and not relax or compromise in the slightest. And may God help us to learn to teach God's laws in the right way to others too, that we wouldn't become legalistic like the Pharisees, but help others to live up to God's righteous standard in Jesus and be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Thanks and praise be to God for sending Jesus, our righteousness!

One Word: Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect

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