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You Be Perfect

Matithyah (Matthew) 5:48 
“You therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Many people have stumbled over this verse.  However, that is not necessary!  This is particularly true when one looks at this verse in context of what Yeshua was saying, and then in the context of all of Scripture itself.  First, please look at the context of what Yeshua was saying.

Matithyah (Matthew) 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy;’
44 but I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
45 that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
46 For if you love them that love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The concept of being perfect must include doing good to all regardless of how one is treated by others.  As we have said in other places, this is not humanly possible, but only becomes possible when one is filled with His Spirit. 

Many have wondered if the idea of being perfect was something new that had not been around before Yeshua taught it.  Please consider the following verses, which show this is not anything new at all. 

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18:13
“You shall become perfect with YHWH your Elohim.”

What Yeshua taught was simply the Torah!  Yeshua taught the true meaning of what it means to be perfect before our heavenly Father by asking some very simple and pointed questions and by putting this command to be perfect in the context of loving one’s enemy as well as one’s neighbor.

The word “perfect” is the Hebrew word תָמִים – “tamiym,” which means “to be complete or entire.”  It is this same word used to describe the Pesach sacrifice as being without blemish, as well as many of the other sacrifices and offerings.

Shemot (Exodus) 12:5
“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats.”

The importance of this concept is brought into very clear focus when one remembers that this command is also dealing with the future coming of Mashiach, who was perfect or תָמִים .  The word תָמִים comes from the root word תמם – “tamam,” which means to require nothing more.  When something does not require anything further, then it is complete and perfect; nothing needs to be added.  In fact, to add to something that is perfect actually diminishes it, and it is then no longer perfect. 

Tehillim (Psalm) 19:7 
The Torah of YHWH is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple.

In this passage, one can see that the Torah of YHWH is perfect.  Nothing needs to be added to it or to be taken away from it.  No wonder YHWH commanded His people not to add to or take away from His Torah.

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 4:2 
“You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim which I command you.”

In the adding to or the taking away from the Torah, the result then, is that it is no longer perfect; and if it is no longer perfect, then it cannot restore the soul (nephesh) of a man.

Scripture teaches that it is quite possible for a person to be perfect in the eyes of YHWH.

B’reshit (Genesis) 6:9
These are the generations of Noach.  Noach was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations; Noach walked with Elohim.

The Scripture records YHWH saying, that in His eyes, Noach was a perfect man.  This is the same word one finds in the other passages, both in the commandment and in the teachings of Yeshua Mashiach.  For example, as the sacrifices that one is to bring to YHWH are to be תָמִים , so too, is the individual to be in that same condition and state of being – perfect!

Romans 12:1-2 
1 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of Elohim, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Elohim, which is your spiritual service.
2 And be not fashioned according to this world; but you be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of Elohim.

Scripture teaches that a person is to present himself as a living sacrifice.  It is when one presents his own body as a living sacrifice that he will prove what the perfect will of YHWH is in his life and in this world.  However, in order to do this, one must be a sacrifice without blemish; he must be perfect!  How can one do this?  Humanly speaking it is not possible, but as the commandment teaches in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18:13, one shall become perfect with YHWH in his life.  Just as Noach walked with YHWH his Elohim, when a person walks with YHWH as his Elohim, YHWH will make him perfect.

Mishle (Proverbs) 11:20 
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to YHWH;
But such as are perfect in their way are His delight.

Getting from the state of imperfection into which one is born, to that place of being a delight to YHWH Elohim, is a process which can be quite painful to the individual spiritually as well as emotionally, and perhaps sometimes, even physically.

Matithyah (Matthew) 19:21
Yeshua said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell that which you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

One of the things that must happen if a person is to be perfect before YHWH, is that he needs to lose his attachment to physical possessions.  They must come to mean nothing to him, except that they are things to be used to do His will in one’s life.  It is not just one’s physical possessions that can be a stumbling block, but what comes out of his mouth as well.

Ya’aqov (James) 3:2
For in many things we all stumble.  If any does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

The man who can control his tongue and not say things he later regrets, is perfect and able to control his whole being as well.  The implication of this passage is that a man is fully capable of becoming a perfect man in his speech.

Ya’aqov (James) 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you come into various trials;
3 Knowing that the testing of your faith works endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

YHWH takes each person through a series of trials in this life that He may perfect him.  Each person needs to learn how to submit to the work YHWH is doing in his life through these trials, in order that he might attain the perfection that He is working in him.

Ivrim (Hebrews) 5:14
But solid food is for a perfect man, even those who by reason of use have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

As YHWH brings perfection into one’s life, it will enable that person to know the difference between good and evil.  Please understand, YHWH will do whatever is necessary to bring that perfection about in order that each individual may spend eternity with Him.  This is not to say that all will submit to the perfecting process and become perfect.  However, those who do, shall be in eternity with Him.

Colossians 1:28
whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Mashiach Yeshua.

As one submits to the work which YHWH is doing in him by His Spirit, He will be able to present that person perfect in Mashiach.  There is no true perfection outside of Mashiach, for He is the perfect Lamb of YHWH!

ABBA YHWH, bring the work of perfection that You are doing in our lives to completion in Mashiach Yeshua.  Amein.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
www.onetorahforall.com
zerubbabel@onetorahforall.com

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