Meaning, commentary and cross references
Matthew 5:48
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
NIV · New International Version
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
WEB · World English Bible
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
What does Matthew 5:48 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father,.... This perfection is to be restrained to the subject Christ is upon, love to men, and not to be referred to any, or every other thing; wherefore, in Luke 6:36 it is, "be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful"; and regards not a perfection of degree in that, but objects and quality: that is to say, not that men may, or can, or ought to be as perfect in love, as to the degree of it, as God is; that is impossible: the "as" here, is not a note of equality, but of likeness: such, who profess God to be their Father, ought to imitate him, particularly in their love to men, which ought to be extended to the same objects, as the divine goodness is…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Matthew 5:43–48
Lastly, Our Saviour concludes this subject with this exhortation (Mat 5:48), Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Which may be understood, 1. In general, including all those things wherein we must be followers of God as dear children. Note, It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press toward a perfection in grace and holiness, Phi 3:12-14.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Matthew 5:43–48
48. You shall therefore be perfect. This perfection does not mean equality, but relates solely to resemblance. [423] However distant we are from the perfection of God, we are said to be perfect, as he is perfect, when we aim at the same object, which he presents to us in Himself. Should it be thought preferable, we may state it thus.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Matthew 5:45–48 (WEB)
45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Cross references
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior,
- James 1:4
Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
- Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, the LORD your God, am holy.
- Deuteronomy 18:13
You shall be blameless with the LORD your God.
- Ephesians 5:1–2
Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
- Luke 6:36
“Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.
- 1 John 3:3
Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
- Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;