Be Ye Perfected

Be ye perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48).

The first "perfect" is from the Greek word "teleiow" (Strong 5048). The second "perfect" is from the Greek word "teleios" (Strong 5046). The Greek words teleiow and teleios, present and past tense, are derived from the Greek word telos, meaning to come to an end, be complete.

The word "perfect" in the English language is often interpreted as having a flawless character or having something that is flawless and in a state of perfection.

This same word according to Greek translation is:

Teleiow: To become mature in mental and moral character.

Teleios: To already be mature in mental and moral character.

By translation it would read:

"Be ye therefore teleiow (to make perfect), even as your Father which is in Heaven is teleios: (complete, perfect).

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

What Jesus was saying is that we are to be perfected (meaning in character, both mental and moral) just as the Father in Heaven is perfect. This perfection is achieved throughout a person's life. It is accomplished, not by self alone: it is an act of God. As we submit ourselves to God, so will He work through us to shape us into the character that He intends for us to be.

By the end of this life and going into the next, one's Christian character should achieve perfection. Christ perfects the Christian character so that it is made perfect for the Kingdom.

Christ bought purification for man by His death (Hebrews 1:1-4). But man is bought to perfection and final purification by learning the suffering of Christ (Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 2:21).

The foundation used to be bought to perfection is the Commandments because they perfect man through suffering learned through sacrificial selflessness. They can best complete perfecting when they are used in the art of sacrifice of giving up everything.

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal,Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matt. 19:16-21).

The rich, young man has since his "youth" kept the Commandments. And he wants to know what else he can do, what he lacks, to gain eternal life. Jesus tells him that to be "perfect," he must sell all he owns and donate it to the poor and then follow Him. The word "perfect" used here by Jesus is from the Greek word "teleios." As stated above, this word means to already be in a state of perfection. Jesus tells the young man that in order for him to reach a state of complete perfection, he is to give away all he owns and follow Jesus. To become perfect, he needs to give up all he owns, everything, for the Lord, then follow Him.

The key words used in this passage are poverty and lacking. To enter a state of perfection, go to the poor house; it will get you there.

Learning to do without and what it is like to not have enough initiates the soul. But this striving for perfection must begin with a willingness to keep the Commandments by servitude and acts of selflessness and loving kindness. Using these attributes is how we follow the way of the Master Who was rich beyond compare. As Son of God, He came from the world of owning eternity to a temporal world of poverty. In His Father's Kingdom, He had rights to everything and He gave it all up to be born on earth in poverty, the poorest of the poor, non-shallow and sacrificial.

When wealth is gained, it is recognized as wealth that belongs to the Lord and is to be used to serve Him.

By imitating Jesus' sacrificial character, we become perfected and become privy to His Kingdom...

as did Paul when he sought perfection...

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you (Phil. 3:10-15).

[Greek teleiow: (to make) perfect]

...Imitating the Perfector of His soul.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:10).

.[Greek teleiow: (to make) perfect]

Jesus needed to have an understanding of human frailty; so, it was important He become Human. Through the experience of becoming human, He would learn human obedience through the experience of suffering. And through His obedience, He would become perfect.

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:6-10).

And through becoming perfect, He would become the High Priest of man [Greek teleiow: (to make) perfect].

Perfected at the cross, Jesus became the Lamb that was "slain" for our sins (Rev. 5:12).

Though Jesus was made perfect by His sufferings on the way of the Cross, this does not mean that He was ever disobedient. On the contrary, He was better able to be perfected because He was obedient (v. 8). He did not sin.

And it is by being obedient like Jesus that we become perfected.

Becoming perfected is as a man with a lump of clay. The man perfects the clay by shaping and molding it into what it is to be. Sin can cause the clay to fall. If this lump of clay should fall, it must be picked up by the man shaping it so that it can be reshaped from the damage and then continue to be molded into its proper shape that it is to become.

Sin not only keeps the clay from being molded properly but can even damage the design taking place. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Because all have sinned, it is all who need Jesus to pick them up, correct any damage from the fall, and continue molding the clay.

We need our High Priest Jesus, the God Who became Man "perfected," so that we lumps of clay can also be made perfect.

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Further Scripture study:

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven

.21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her tocommit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

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.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

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


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	Be Ye Perfected

Be ye perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48). The first "perfect" is from the Greek word "teleiow" (Strong 5048). The second "perfect" is from the Greek word "teleios" (Strong 5046). The Greek words teleiow and teleios, present and past tense, are derived from the Greek word telos, meaning to come to an end, be complete. The word "perfect" in the English language is often interpreted as having a flawless character or having something that is flawless and in a state of perfection. This same word according to Greek translation is: Teleiow: To become mature in mental and moral character. Teleios: To already be mature in mental and moral character. By translation it would read: "Be ye therefore teleiow (to make perfect), even as your Father which is in Heaven is teleios: (complete, perfect). "Or "Be ye therefore perfected, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." What Jesus was saying is that we are to be perfected (meaning in character, both mental and moral) just as the Father in Heaven is perfect. This perfection is achieved throughout a person's life. It is accomplished, not by self alone: it is an act of God. As we submit ourselves to God, so will He work through us to shape us into the character that He intends for us to be. By the end of this life and going into the next, one's Christian character should achieve perfection. Christ perfects the Christian character so that it is made perfect for the Kingdom. Christ bought purification for man by His death (Hebrews 1:1-4). But man is bought to perfection and final purification by learning the suffering of Christ (Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 2:21). The foundation used to be bought to perfection is the Commandments because they perfect man through suffering learned through sacrificial selflessness. They can best complete perfecting when they are used in the art of sacrifice of giving up everything. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal,Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matt. 19:16-21). The rich, young man has since his "youth" kept the Commandments. And he wants to know what else he can do, what he lacks, to gain eternal life. Jesus tells him that to be "perfect," he must sell all he owns and donate it to the poor and then follow Him. The word "perfect" used here by Jesus is from the Greek word "teleios." As stated above, this word means to already be in a state of perfection. Jesus tells the young man that in order for him to reach a state of complete perfection, he is to give away all he owns and follow Jesus. To become perfect, he needs to give up all he owns, everything, for the Lord, then follow Him. The key words used in this passage are poverty and lacking. To enter a state of perfection, go to the poor house; it will get you there. Learning to do without and what it is like to not have enough initiates the soul. But this striving for perfection must begin with a willingness to keep the Commandments by servitude and acts of selflessness and loving kindness. Using these attributes is how we follow the way of the Master Who was rich beyond compare. As Son of God, He came from the world of owning eternity to a temporal world of poverty. In His Father's Kingdom, He had rights to everything and He gave it all up to be born on earth in poverty, the poorest of the poor, non-shallow and sacrificial. When wealth is gained, it is recognized as wealth that belongs to the Lord and is to be used to serve Him. By imitating Jesus' sacrificial character, we become perfected and become privy to His Kingdom... as did Paul when he sought perfection... That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you (Phil. 3:10-15). *[Greek teleiow: (to make) perfect]* ...Imitating the Perfector of His soul. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:10). .[Greek teleiow: (to make) perfect] Jesus needed to have an understanding of human frailty; so, it was important He become Human. Through the experience of becoming human, He would learn human obedience through the experience of suffering. And through His obedience, He would become perfect. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:6-10). And through becoming perfect, He would become the High Priest of man *[Greek teleiow: (to make) perfect].* Perfected at the cross, Jesus became the Lamb that was "slain" for our sins (Rev. 5:12). Though Jesus was made perfect by His sufferings on the way of the Cross, this does not mean that He was ever disobedient. On the contrary, He was better able to be perfected because He was obedient (v. 8). He did not sin. And it is by being obedient like Jesus that we become perfected. Becoming perfected is as a man with a lump of clay. The man perfects the clay by shaping and molding it into what it is to be. Sin can cause the clay to fall. If this lump of clay should fall, it must be picked up by the man shaping it so that it can be reshaped from the damage and then continue to be molded into its proper shape that it is to become. *Sin not only keeps the clay from being molded properly but can even damage the design taking place. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"* (*Rom. 3:23). Because all have sinned, it is all who need Jesus to pick them up, correct any damage from the fall, and continue molding the clay.* We need our High Priest Jesus, the God Who became Man "perfected," so that we lumps of clay can also be made perfect. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Further Scripture study:* *Matthew 5* 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven .21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her tocommit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 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. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.