Matthew 5:48
What does Matthew 5:48 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 5:48 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 5:48 means
Jesus concludes this section of the Sermon on the Mount with a profound and challenging command: "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This isn't a call to sinless perfection in this life, but to wholeness, completeness, and maturity in character, particularly in the realm of unconditional love. It means pursuing a righteousness that fully reflects God's own perfect benevolence, extending love impartially to all, even enemies, striving to reflect His fullness in every aspect of life.
Matthew 5:48 in context
Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes
Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.
- Kingdom ethics
- Inner righteousness
- True blessedness
- Light and salt
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who <FI>is<Fi> in the heavens is perfect.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Context
This verse serves as the powerful conclusion to Jesus' radical reinterpretations of the Law and His demands for Kingdom righteousness. It summarizes and encapsulates the entire chapter's theme, setting the ultimate standard for His disciples—to perfectly reflect the character of God, particularly His impartial love, thereby transitioning to the next chapter's teachings on practical righteousness.
v.47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
v.48This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.
- Colossians 1:28
whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;
- Luke 6:40
The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.
- Ephesians 3:1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—
- James 1:4
And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
- Psalms 37:37
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is ahappyend to the man of peace.
Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:48
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Matthew 5:48 teaches us about kingdom ethics
What Matthew 5:48 teaches us about inner righteousness
What Matthew 5:48 teaches us about true blessedness
What Matthew 5:48 teaches us about light and salt
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