The Pinnacle of Character

In this installment, we will study Matt. 5:48. This verse, and it’s context, outlines the pinnacle of character. It is Jesus showing us that the standard for our character is our Father in heaven. We should not judge our character by any other standard or compare ourselves to the character of “great” men. The primary question is: Are you striving to have character like God the Father?

Growing in character requires a lot of self-reflection. None of us will grow if we refuse to identify flaws in our character. Identification of flaws becomes easier when comparing our character to God’s. As you read this study, see yourself for who you really are. Determine to change where you fall short and earnestly pray for God the Father and Jesus Christ to strengthen you to make those changes through His Spirit (Mark 10:27;Phil. 4:13).

Be Perfect

Matt. 5:48 is an explicit command given by the Lord Jesus Christ. This command should encourage Christians to build better character. Would Jesus Christ command us to do something that was impossible or unobtainable? (Matt. 19:26;Mark 9:23)

The Greek word translated as perfect means complete or completeness. Jesus is showing us that our character must be complete. As it stands, we all have incomplete character. We have not come to point in life where our character is remotely like God the Father’s (Isa. 55:6-9). We do not have the spiritual consistency that He has. We often make our choices on the basis of our emotions. Our emotions are subject to change in any given situation. We may even react differently to the same situation depending on how we feel that day.

Contrast your inconsistent responses to stimuli to what the Bible declares about God. (See Mal. 3:6;James 1:17;Heb 13:8) God’s character and actions do not change on a whim like ours. He is consistent. His character is firm and complete. He is fair, loving, reasonable, patient, and merciful even with His enemies. This is not the natural human condition, but Jesus challenges us to live differently!

You Have Heard

In order to understand the kind of character that God has, we often have to dismiss what we have hear from others. This includes supposed religious leaders. Jesus was doing this very thing in Matt. 5. (See verses 21, 27, 31, 33, 38, and 43.) In the cited verses, you will see Jesus challenging what His disciples had heard. If you take the time to look up the laws Jesus was referring to, then you will quickly discover that what the disciples heard from the religious leaders of their time was completely wrong or misinterpreted. If you want proof of this assertion, read Ex. 21:22-25; Deut. 19:16-21; and Lev. 24:17-22, then reread Matt. 5:38-39. When you study the topic carefully, you will notice the intent of the laws and judgments of God. These verses were not promoting vengeance; however, they promote justice. These commands show that God was trying to deter violence rather than promote it. Even Paul declared that God the Father is the God of peace in Rom. 15:33. Requiring someone to be punished equally for harming (or trying to harm) another person disincentivizes violence and promotes peace. (Also see Lev. 19:18 for one more piece of evidence.)

Do not allow anyone to convince you that Jesus was dismantling the teachings recorded by Moses. Jesus Christ was trying to show us what the real intent of the law Deut. 14:1-2 and Lev. 19:2 which shows that God called Israel to meet special conditions that they never fulfilled. Likewise, God has called His church to be holy as He is holy and this is truly about character (I Peter 1:13-16).

Be Merciful

Luke 6:36 is companion verse ti Matt. 5:48. Luke uses the merciful. This word isn’t contradictory to Matthew’s account. Be sure to look up the words in this verse in Greek using a concordance. Merciful was translated from a Greek word meaning compassionate. This word is only used three times in the Bible (twice in Luke 6:36 and once in James 5:11). Read Luke 6:27-35 and Matt. 5:43-47. In these verses, Jesus was showing us how to be the children of the Highest, our Father in heaven. Every Christian is supposed to be a son of God and Jesus gave a clear outline on how to be a real child of God. In order to be a child of God, you and I have to be compassionate towards our enemies, unthankful, the evil, and sinners. We do no have the prerogative to choose to withhold compassion from those who are not Christian.

Please read Luke 6:35. Do you want to have complete character like God the Father? Then you have to learn to be compassionate to those who appear not to deserve it. Learn to do good to those who have done no good to you. Let your example of godly character challenge their behavior. Consider the following verses: Rom. 12:17-21; I Thes. 5:15.

Practice What He Preached

Let’s reread Matt. 5:43-48. Verse 44 says to love your enemies. Do you have enemies? If so, does your behavior towards your enemies mimic the way of the world? (Rom. 12:2) Do you bless those who curse you? Do you do good to those who clearly hate you? Do you pray for those who have used and persecuted you?

Indeed these commands are not easy to keep, but our motivation must be rooted in verse 44. If you want to be a child of the Father, then this is the way you must behave. This is the way that God the Father acts and He expects His children to do the same. His character is perfect (complete) and the world is imperfect. Ask yourself: Do I want to be like the sinners of this world or God the Father? (Matt. 5:46-47; Luke 6:32-33)

How do you behave at work? How do you behave at school? Are you striving for perfect character when you are upset or frustrated? Do you bless those who are verbally abusive towards you? In order to behave this way, we all have to learn to control out anger just as God does. See Ps. 103:8-10 and Ps. 145:8-9. Learn to be good to all. Strive to be slow to anger and willing to extend mercy towards sinners as God has been merciful towards you. Rather than seek revenge or harbor hostility, be merciful and gracious, making room for others to repent. And be ready to forgive others as God has forgiven you (Mark 11:25-26;Matt 6:12,14-15).