Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

KJV

ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν.

Greek NT

Estote ergo vos perfecti, sicut et Pater vester cælestis perfectus est.

Vulgate

Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

ASV

Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

8 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
οὐράνιος
ouranios
adjective · 9×
οὖν
oun
conjunction · 489×
πατήρ
pater
noun · 412×
τέλειος
teleios
adjective · 19×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὑμεῖς
umeis
pronoun · 1828×
ὡς
os
adverb · 502×

Textual variants

2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: ὡς | WH/Treg/NIV: ὡς | RP: ὥσπερ
  • ὡς — SBLGNT
  • ὡς — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ὥσπερ — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: οὐράνιος | WH/Treg/NIV: οὐράνιος | RP: ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς
  • οὐράνιος — SBLGNT
  • οὐράνιος — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Doctrines that cite this verse

Historic Christian voices

14 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§443Peter could recognize the transcendent character of the Messiah's divine sonship because Jesus had clearly allowed it to be so understood. To his accusers' question before the Sanhedrin, "Are you the Son of God, then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am."50 Well before this, Jesus referred to himself as "the Son" who knows the Father, as distinct from the "servants" God had ear…
§1693Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father,5 and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ's disciples are invited to live in the sight of the Father "who sees in secret,"6 in order to become "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."7
§1968The Law of the Gospel fulfills the commandments of the Law. the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, far from abolishing or devaluing the moral prescriptions of the Old Law, releases their hidden potential and has new demands arise from them: it reveals their entire divine and human truth. It does not add new external precepts, but proceeds to reform the heart, the root of human acts, w…
…and 2 more from this source.
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210219.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
§96And first of all let us imitate the breadth of His love. For the Church, the Bride of Christ, is one; and yet so vast is the love of the divine Spouse that it embraces in His Bride the whole human race without exception. Our Savior shed His Blood precisely in order that He might reconcile men to God through the Cross, and might constrain them to unite in one body, however widel…
19. Again, taking patterns for man from divine subjects, the Saviour says; 'Be merciful, as your Father which is in heaven is merciful Luke 6:36;' and, 'Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect Matthew 5:48.' And He said this too, not that we might become such as the Father; for to become as the Father, is impossible for us creatures, who have been brought to be out of no…
Does perfection bear any relation to charity? Can one be perfect in this life? Does the perfection of this life consist chiefly in observing the counsels or the commandments? Is whoever is perfect in the state of perfection? Are prelates and religious especially in the state of perfection? Are all prelates in the state of perfection? Which is the more perfect, the episcopal or …
The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and every one of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consummate of this holiness of life: "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect." Thus it is evident to everyone that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status…
By perfection I mean the humble, gentle, patient love of God and our neighbour, ruling our tempers, words, and actions. I do not mean that a Christian is free from ignorance or mistake, or from infirmities and temptations. I mean that he is cleansed from all sin, from all unrighteousness; that he is sanctified throughout in body, soul, and spirit.
Our Lord Himself commands, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." The Apostle John declares, "Herein is our love made perfect." And Paul prays that the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly. These texts show that God both commands and promises entire sanctification in this life.

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 2:6 — Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
  • 1John 3:3 — And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
  • 1John 3:3 — And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
  • 1Pet 1:15 — But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
  • 1Pet 1:15 — But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
  • 2Cor 7:1 — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
  • 2Cor 7:1 — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
  • 2Cor 13:9 — For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
  • 2Cor 13:11 — Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
  • 2Sam 22:31 — As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
  • Col 1:28 — Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
  • Col 1:28 — Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
  • Col 4:12 — Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
  • Col 4:12 — Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
  • Deut 18:13 — Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
  • Deut 18:13 — Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
  • Deut 27:10 — Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
  • Deut 32:4 — He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
  • Eph 3:1 — For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
  • Eph 5:1 — Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
  • Eph 5:1 — Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
  • Gen 17:1 — And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
  • Gen 17:1 — And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
  • Heb 5:14 — But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
  • Heb 6:1 — Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
  • Jas 1:4 — But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
  • Jas 1:4 — But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
  • Job 1:1 — There 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 eschewed evil.
  • Lev 11:44 — For 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 ear
  • Lev 11:44 — For 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 ear
  • Lev 19:2 — Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
  • Lev 19:2 — Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
  • Lev 20:26 — And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
  • Luke 6:36 — Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
  • Luke 6:36 — Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
  • Luke 6:40 — The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
  • Matt 5:9 — Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
  • Matt 5:16 — Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
  • Matt 5:45 — That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
  • Matt 6:1 — Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.