Matthew 5:48

Matthew 5:48 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
• New International Version (NIV)Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Context of Matthew 5:48

46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 word by word

ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν.¶Read the interlinear

• Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• you are to be perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• as your heavenlyοὐράνιοςouranios · heavenlyG3770
• Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Cross-references for Matthew 5:48

• Genesis 17:1Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.
• Leviticus 11:44For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.
• Leviticus 19:2“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
• Leviticus 20:26Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
• Deuteronomy 18:13You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.
• Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.
• Psalms 37:37Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity.
• Luke 6:36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• 2 Corinthians 13:9For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
• Colossians 1:28We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
• James 1:4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• 1 Peter 1:15but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
• Matthew 5:16Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Commentaries on Matthew 5:48

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 48Be ye therefore perfect - as your Father - God himself is the grand law, sole giver, and only pattern of the perfection which he recommends to his children. The words are very emphatic, , Ye shall be therefore perfect - ye shall be filled with the spirit of that God whose name is Mercy, and whose nature is love. God has many imitators of his power, independence, justice, etc., but few of his love, condescension, and kindness. He calls himself Love, to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 48Be 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 43-48Verses 43-48 The Jewish teachers by "neighbour" understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to look upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kindness we can to all, especially to their souls. We must pray for them. While many will render good for good, we must render good for evil; and this will speak a nobler principle than most men act by. Others salute their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 48This verse connects 5:20–48 as a single unit (see study note on Matthew 4:23–25). be perfect: The word “perfect” means maturity, wholeness, and full devotion to God. It describes a complete response to the message of Jesus about the kingdom (19:21; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:15; Colossians 1:28; 4:12; 1 John 4:18). True perfection has love at its center (see Luke 6:36).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4848. Be ye therefore--rather, "Ye shall therefore be," or "Ye are therefore to be," as My disciples and in My kingdom. perfect--or complete. Manifestly, our Lord here speaks, not of degrees of excellence, but of the kind of excellence which was to distinguish His disciples and characterize His kingdom. When therefore He adds, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect--He refers to that full-orbed glorious completeness which is in the great Divine…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:48

• Commandments
• Enemy
• Example
• Forgiveness
• God Continued...
• Holiness
• Instruction
• Perfection
• Religion

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit
• Jot

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings