Heavenly Father,
As a recovering perfectionist,
I confess, this verse always makes me anxious
when I first read it.
But then I reread Dr. Doriani’s commentary on Matthew,
and he reminds me,
the command is also a promise as phrased in Greek,
“You shall be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
As he says, the word “perfect” also reveals
how completely inadequate we are
to live out Jesus’ commands
apart from his mercy and grace
operating in our lives.
The word “perfect” means “mature and complete,”
but we know we’re nowhere near
as mature and complete as God is,
so it must be a process.
Indeed,
becoming mature and complete
takes a lifetime of your sanctifying work
through the Spirit.
Becoming mature and complete
doesn’t mean “work harder”;
it means “depend on God more,”
because you are the God
who makes new selves out of old selves (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Becoming mature and complete
doesn’t mean “never make a mistake”;
it means “run to God
with all of your mistakes,
weaknesses, and sin.”
To be perfect
is to trust in you alone
to finish the good work
you began in us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
In Jesus’ perfecting name. Amen.
Read Matthew 5:17-48; Philippians 3:12-16.
