Can We Really Be Perfect?
In this article, you will learn how Matthew 5:48 contradicts Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8 and 1 Kings 8:46. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In exploring the message of being "perfect" as reflected in Matthew 5:48, we encounter a profound aspiration: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." At its heart, this call is about striving towards a divine ideal of love and goodness. However, when we delve deeper into biblical texts, a tapestry of contradictions emerges, raising compelling questions about human nature and spiritual aspirations.
The author of Ecclesiastes begins this discussion, presenting a realistic, perhaps even skeptical, view of human nature. Ecclesiastes 7:20 suggests, "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." This verse implies that perfection, in the absolute sense, is beyond human reach. Just like a ship sailing through turbulent seas, the path to being flawless is fraught with challenges and setbacks.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul, in Romans 3:23, acknowledges the universal human experience of falling short: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This mirrors the notion that, though we strive to be our best selves, perfection is more like the horizon—always visible yet forever out of reach.
In 1 John 1:8, we are cautioned against self-deception: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Here, claiming sinlessness is likened to building a house on sand; it lacks a foundation in truth and reality. The same theme resonates in 1 Kings 8:46, which states, "for there is no man that sinneth not."
These verses present a compelling tension with Matthew 5:48's call to perfection. This tension encourages us to question and reflect: Can humanity truly mirror divine perfection, or is our journey more about the sincere pursuit of betterment amidst imperfection? This nuanced dialogue within the scriptures invites us to balance aspiration with acceptance, aiming high while embracing our humanity.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Matthew 5:48 | Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. |
| 2. | Ecclesiastes 7:20 | For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. |
| 3. | Romans 3:23 | For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; |
| 4. | 1 John 1:8 | If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. |
| 5. | 1 Kings 8:46 | If they sin against thee, (for [there is] no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near; |