Matthew 5:48

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:43-48

Loving one's enemy. This is another instance of the way in which Christian righteousness is to exceed the righteousness of scribes and Pharisees. Let us consider the duty and the motives that urge it. I. THE DUTY . 1 . Positive. This carries us beyond patience under insult and nonresistance to injury. The previous passage insisted on those duties only. It was negative in character, forbidding a wrong course of conduct; therefore obedience to it would be purely passive. Now we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:43-48

The perfect fulfilling of Law: Christ's sixth illustration. This last illustration makes two advances upon even those foregoing. From the negative course, of not resisting evil, Christ proceeds to teach the high and moral principle of doing good for evil, positively and practically. Further, this illustration moves in that highest sphere where law merges in love. It finds its material in that law of love which comprehends the perfect fulfilling of law. The words of Chrysostom are well worth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:43-48

Perfection. Here is an attainable perfection, for it comes to us as a promise as well as a command. But what is it? I. IT CANNOT BE THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OF GOD . 1 . There is an infinite difference between God and man in their being. 2 . There is an infinite difference in their presence. 3 . There is an infinite difference in their power. 4 . There is an infinite difference in their holiness. II. IF THE PERFECTION BE NOT ABSOLUTE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:48

In Luke 6:36 , "Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful," we have certainly a reminiscence of the same saying, and, almost as certainly, from the smoothing away of difficulties, a less original form of it. Be ye therefore perfect; Revised Version, ye therefore shall be perfect ( ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ) . The form is based on Deuteronomy 18:13 , τέλειος ἔσῃ . While the introduction of ὑμεῖς emphasizes the contrast between Christ's disciples and those... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:48

Our standard of perfection. "Even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Though fittingly employed at the close of this chapter, the word "perfect" is more immediately connected with the last few verses. Dealing with that strange inference of the Pharisees, that because we are commanded to love our neighbours, we are therefore required to hate our enemies, Christ presents the true idea of love, the perfect conception of love. He demands such a love as can make what is opposite to it,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect ... - The Saviour concludes this part of the discourse by commanding his disciples to be “perfect.” This word commonly means “finished, complete, pure, holy.” Originally, it is applied to a piece of mechanism, as a machine that is complete in its parts. Applied to people, it refers to completeness of parts, or perfection, where no part is defective or wanting. Thus, Job Job 1:1 is said to be “perfect;” that is, not holy as God, or “sinless” - for fault is afterward found... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:21-48

40. Legal obedience is not enough (Matthew 5:21-48; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 12:57-59)After his explanation concerning right and wrong attitudes to the law, Jesus gives a number of examples. He introduces these examples with statements such as ‘You have heard that it was said in the past’. This is not the same as ‘It is written’. Jesus is not quoting from the Old Testament but from the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. He is not contradicting the law but the interpretations of the law that the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:48

perfect. In thus acting on the principles of grace, in conformity with the laws of the kingdom here promulgated. Greek. teleios. See App-125 . your . . . heaven. All the texts read "your heavenly Father". See note on Matthew 6:14 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:48

Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.No one can say that Christ did not set a high standard for man to follow! To be perfect as God is perfect, what a challenge this is! At the outset, every candid student of the Holy Scriptures should admit and understand that there is not the slightest possibility of his ever graduating from this school, "Magna cum Laude"! Nobody, but nobody is ever going to be perfect; and yet, it is the genius of the Christian religion that... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:48

Matthew 5:48. Be ye therefore perfect, &c.— Father Hardouin observes, that this might be rendered, agreeably to the Greek, You shall therefore be perfect, so as to contain a promise, and not an exhortation. The perfection of the divine goodness is proposed to our imitation, as it is promiscuous, extending to the evil as well as the good, and not as it is absolutely universal and infinite; for in these respects the imitation of it is impossible. The precise meaning of the text, says Dr.... read more

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