Matthew 5:48 DRB Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect

[Holly3278]

Matthew 5:48 DRB Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

I have a question. Does God expect us to be perfect here on this earth? If so, how are we to achieve this? Is it not impossible for mankind to be perfect on this earth? I agree that anything is possible with God’s help but this just really confuses me. Is God commanding us to be perfect here while on this earth or is it possible that He is commanding us to be perfect but not necessarily while on this earth?

 

[jrssls]

This verse means that you shall be perfect by having the kind of love for your fellowman described in verses 38-47. This is a promise and a command. A disciple will never be perfect in the sense that God is, but he may, and so must, love everyone as God does. How can we be perfect? In character: in this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. We are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. We are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own and carry his love and mercy into the world. We can’t achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us.

 

[Holly3278]

This verse means that you shall be perfect by having the kind of love for your fellowman described in verses 38-47. This is a promise and a command. A disciple will never be perfect in the sense that God is, but he may, and so must, love everyone as God does. How can we be perfect? In character: in this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. We are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. We are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own and carry his love and mercy into the world. We can’t achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us.

Oh ok. So basically the verse is saying that we must be perfect in our love for each other as our Heavenly Father is perfect in His love for all of us?

 

[thistle]

Matthew 5:48 DRB Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

I have a question. Does God expect us to be perfect here on this earth? If so, how are we to achieve this? Is it not impossible for mankind to be perfect on this earth? I agree that anything is possible with God’s help but this just really confuses me. Is God commanding us to be perfect here while on this earth or is it possible that He is commanding us to be perfect but not necessarily while on this earth?

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 48. Jesus Christ here sums up his instructions by ordering us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect; i.e. to imitate, as far as our exertions, assisted by divine grace, can reach, the divine perfection. (Witham) — See here the great superiority of the new over the old law. But let no one hence take occasion to despise the old. Let him examine attentively, says St. Chrysostom, the different periods of time, and the persons to whom it was given; and he will admire the wisdom of the divine Legislator, and clearly perceive that it is one and the same Lord, and that each law was to the great advantage of mankind, and wisely adapted to the times of their promulgation. For, if among the first principles of rectitude, these sublime and eminent truths had been found, perhaps neither these, nor the less perfect rules of mortality would have been observed; whereas, by disposing of both in their proper time, the divine wisdom has employed both for the correction of the world. (Hom. xviii.) Seeing then that we are thus blessed as to be called, and to be the children of so excellent a Father, we should endeavour, like Him, to excel in goodness, meekness, and charity; but above all in humility, which will secure to us the merit of good works, through the infinite merits of our divine Redeemer, Master, and model, Christ Jesus the Lord. (Haydock)

 

[Nita]

In the Greek, the verb “be” is in the future tense. It is one verse where I prefer the New American Bible translation –
“…you must be made perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.”

I think it gives a better sense of the future aspect of the verb; a perfecting which, with God’s grace, must be fulfilled in us at some point in our future. Thus, the verse also implies the necessity of purgatory, since few of us have arrived at “perfect perfection” at the time of death. We are not yet “clean” enough to enter heaven
*“But nothing unclean shall enter it.” *- Rev. 21:27 .

Nita

 

[jrssls]

His greatest commandment is to love one another. You don’t have to like the person, but you do have to love him. There is a difference between like and love. When you read a verse in the Bible, you have to read the verses before and after it. Then you’ll understand it better.

 

[KingAlfred]

Matthew 5:48 DRB Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

I have a question. Does God expect us to be perfect here on this earth? If so, how are we to achieve this? Is it not impossible for mankind to be perfect on this earth? I agree that anything is possible with God’s help but this just really confuses me. Is God commanding us to be perfect here while on this earth or is it possible that He is commanding us to be perfect but not necessarily while on this earth?

Not perfect, but excellent. It’s the challenge of my life.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

In the period of time between absolution and the next time one sins–either venially or mortally–is one perfect in that time period?

If one is in a state of grace and receives Jesus in the Eucharist–in the period of time before digestion takes place and provided that one does not sin in that time period is one perfect?

Immediately after one is baptized is one at that moment perfect?

I think that many experience short periods of time when they are perfect.

Am I right or wrong?

 

[martreexcepteda]

isnt the bible teaching not one is rightious what are you considering there are rightious people

 

[jrssls]

In the period of time between absolution and the next time one sins–either venially or mortally–is one perfect in that time period?

If one is in a state of grace and receives Jesus in the Eucharist–in the period of time before digestion takes place and provided that one does not sin in that time period is one perfect?

Immediately after one is baptized is one at that moment perfect?

I think that many experience short periods of time when they are perfect.

Am I right or wrong?

You’re wrong.
No one is perfect. Philippians 1:6 - All phases of perfection are grounded in faith in Christ and what he has done, not what we can do for him. We cannot perfect ourselves; only God can work in and through us to “continue his work until it is finally finished on that day Christ Jesus comes back again.”

 

[KingAlfred]

It’s one’s *‘life-work’ *-- self-mastery in the context of Catholic perfection.

 

[jrssls]

In the Greek, the verb “be” is in the future tense. It is one verse where I prefer the New American Bible translation –
“…*you must be made *perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.”

I think it gives a better sense of the future aspect of the verb; a perfecting which, with God’s grace, must be fulfilled in us at some point in our future. Thus, the verse also implies the necessity of purgatory, since few of us have arrived at “perfect perfection” at the time of death. We are not yet “clean” enough to enter heaven
*“But nothing unclean shall enter it.” *- Rev. 21:27 .

Nita

It means that in this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible at all. Can you prove it? The only way that you can be clean from your sins is to ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness, he’s the only one that will forgive you. Not purgatory.
The only way that you can enter into Heaven is from John 3:3 - Jesus says, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.” That means accepting Christ as your Savior, believing that He died on the cross for your sins, living for him and ASKING for forgiveness. You can’t get forgiveness from anyone else, except through Jesus Christ. If you don’t ask for forgiveness for your sins, He will remember them all and bring them into judgement. When you ask for forgiveness, He wipes the slate clean and remembers them no more. Isn’t that wonderful? We remember them, but He doesn’t. That is why there is no such thing as purgatory.

 

[Nita]

It means that in this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible at all. Can you prove it? The only way that you can be clean from your sins is to ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness, he’s the only one that will forgive you. Not purgatory.

Catholics do not believe purgatory can forgive. Only God can forgive sins. Purgatory is a place or state of existence one may have to be in after death — not any sort of a thinking being that can forgive.

You might like to check out other threads on Purgatory. Just one verse for here: 1 Cor 3:12-15

The only way that you can enter into Heaven is from John 3:3 - Jesus says, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.” That means accepting Christ as your Savior, believing that He died on the cross for your sins, living for him and ASKING for forgiveness. You can’t get forgiveness from anyone else, except through Jesus Christ. If you don’t ask for forgiveness for your sins, He will remember them all and bring them into judgement. When you ask for forgiveness, He wipes the slate clean and remembers them no more. Isn’t that wonderful? We remember them, but He doesn’t. That is why there is no such thing as purgatory.

The John passage says nothing about “born again” meaning "accepting Christ as your Savior, … Rather, verse 5 clarifies its meaning by saying “born of water and the Spirit” – in other words, Baptism.

I tried to be as brief as possible so as not to sidetrack this thread. Hope it clarifies a little. If not, perhaps you could start a thread/s where the topics could be discussed more fully.

God bless,
Nita

 

[KingAlfred]

“It means that in this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible.”

Amen. I have found that by just trying to accomplish this, on a daily basis, I am challenged much moreso by anything else we’re supposed to do as Catholics.

 

[fhansen]

Matthew 5:48 DRB Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

I have a question. Does God expect us to be perfect here on this earth? If so, how are we to achieve this? Is it not impossible for mankind to be perfect on this earth? I agree that anything is possible with God’s help but this just really confuses me. Is God commanding us to be perfect here while on this earth or is it possible that He is commanding us to be perfect but not necessarily while on this earth?

Everything in our faith points to perfection as being necessary for entrance into heaven. Think of it: heaven is not a place so much as the immediate presence of God. It’s not He who bans us from that experience but ourselves-we simply can’t know/have/experience the total joy, happiness, peace, and love that comes with that presence, i.e. we can’t enter the kingdom of God, if we’re still in sin. To paraphrase a few verses, light and dark don’t mix, no sinners will enter heaven, but God saves us while yet in our sins and transgressions and so, in His mercy and by His grace He has provided the means, including purgatory, for our perfecting so long as we’re willing. We must fulfill the Law to gain entrance into heaven and the Law is only fulfilled when we love as we ought-love has always been the fulfillment of the law as perfect love cannot coexist with sin.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

SO tell me people–after a person in a state of grace receives our Lord in the Eucharist and before he has committed any sin–either venial or mortal–at that point when he is in communion with Jesus–exactly how imperfect is he?

 

[Mea_Culpa]

In the Greek, the verb “be” is in the future tense. It is one verse where I prefer the New American Bible translation –
“…*you must be made *perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.”

I think it gives a better sense of the future aspect of the verb; a perfecting which, with God’s grace, must be fulfilled in us at some point in our future. Thus, the verse also implies the necessity of purgatory, since few of us have arrived at “perfect perfection” at the time of death. We are not yet “clean” enough to enter heaven
*“But nothing unclean shall enter it.” *- Rev. 21:27 .

Nita

The NAB translation is “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The Vulgate is estote ergo vos perfecti sicut et Pater vester caelestis perfectus est - estote is a plural command, not the future. This is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus is proclaiming the new law, the law inscribed on our hearts. Outwardly obeying the law is not enough, we must be perfect in our hearts and minds and souls as well to fulfill this new law.

 

[jrssls]

Oh ok. So basically the verse is saying that we must be perfect in our love for each other as our Heavenly Father is perfect in His love for all of us?

Can’t explain it any simpler than that. It’s not confusing at all!

 

[KingAlfred]

Matthew 5:48 DRB Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

I have a question. Does God expect us to be perfect here on this earth? If so, how are we to achieve this? Is it not impossible for mankind to be perfect on this earth? I agree that anything is possible with God’s help but this just really confuses me. Is God commanding us to be perfect here while on this earth or is it possible that He is commanding us to be perfect but not necessarily while on this earth?

I interpret this to mean we have to try, as if it were possible. We must push ourselves hard and constantly, to be the very best disciples we possibly can. Nothing else must be allowed to compete with this endeavor. Nothing.

 

[Jerry-Jet]

What is imperfect about being in a state of grace without venial sin and in communion with Jesus during the eucharist?

I’m not saying that a person in that state has achieved sainthood–I am saying that they are perfect for a brief amount of time until they either venially or mortally sin again.

Why isn’t that the case?

I guess what I’m asking is does one also have to be free from any attachment to sin–as one would be if they obtained a plenary indulgence to be perfect or

would one have to go beyond even that and have obtained sainthood in addition to be perfect?

Another question: the instant after one is baptized and would in fact go straight to heaven if they died at that instant–

Are they perfect for that instant?