Matthew 5:48 tells us that we must be perfect, but how can we if we all have fallen short of the glory of God?

 

Matthew 5:48 should be read in context:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The context is enemy love. It’s his Jesus says that if we live our enemies and pray for those who persecute us we may be children of God . That’s the context.

In other words, if you wish to be perfect, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. This is certainly challenging, but not impossible, especially if we perceive the love of God revealed on the cross, where God, in Christ, though we were His enemies, loved us and gave Himself for us.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (NASB)