“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48). As I read those words, I can’t help but link them back to “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” from Leviticus 19:2 (cf. Deut. 18:13). Yet I’ve learned that with that last verse what Jesus is saying has a narrow and a wide view. Jesus concludes his teaching on loving your enemies (narrow), and in a sense, his whole teaching about righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees and scribes (wide).

The Father shows his perfection to his enemies in the way that he loves them. We must have a similar love, controlled by our choice and will, not by how lovely the other person is. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) We were loved when we were God’s enemies. To show God’s love, we will go – we must go – and do likewise.

Reflecting on this passage in light of its ties to Leviticus and Deuteronomy, Don Carson reminds us of the connotations in the word “perfect” – the “perfect” sacrifice without blemish and the blamelessness of God’s people. Perfection carries the weight of wholehearted obedience to all Jesus taught, a “complete” devotion to his teachings.

The key to this verse is “as your heavenly Father”. We emulate him in all we say and do. His perfection is the goal for all our thoughts and actions, for all our relationships inside and outside the community.