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 ye love them who love you, what reward have ye? do not even the tax collectors the same? 47And if ye greet your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the tax collectors so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 word by word

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

• Beἔσομαιesomai · will beG2071
• yeὑμεῖςhumeis · youG5210
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• evenὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
• yourὑμῶνhumōn · of youG5216
• Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• whoὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• isἐστίesti · he isG2076

Cross-references for Matthew 5:48

• Genesis 17:1And when Abram was ninety and nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
• Leviticus 11:44For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
• Leviticus 19:2Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
• Leviticus 20:26And ye shall be holy to me: for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from other people, that ye should be mine.
• Deuteronomy 18:13Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
• Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.
• Psalms 37:37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
• Luke 6:36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• 2 Corinthians 13:9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
• Philippians 3:12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I press on, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended by Christ Jesus.
• Colossians 1:28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greeteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
• James 1:4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
• 1 Peter 1:15But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all your behaviour;
• Matthew 5:16Let your light so shine before men, 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