Jesus concludes His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount with a profound command in Matthew 5:48, stating, "You shall be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect." The term "perfect" here translates the Greek word *teleios* (G5046), which means having attained the end or aim. It signifies reaching the point of what one was designed to do or be. If a person expresses love, blessing, and goodness toward enemies as God intends His children to do as a way of life, they are considered perfect in this sense, functioning as God desires and designed His people to be. This standard set by Jesus is not merely about surpassing the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees or keeping the law in letter and spirit. Instead, He elevates the goal to the very righteous and holy character of the Most High God. Jesus sets the aim for God's children as limitless love, kindness, goodness, patience, peace, forbearance, and mercy—attributes that mirror the nature of God Himself. The unspoken implication is that we are not to be satisfied with our progress until we reach this level, striving for the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, which reflects the fullness of the Father. Though this standard seems impossible for us as mere humans, Jesus provides an incredible goal to pursue throughout our lives. He is always present to help us reach it, encouraging us to press toward this perfection without losing heart. The journey to the Kingdom of God demands persistent effort, akin to an uphill march, as we strive to embody the perfection of the Father and attain the ultimate aim He has set for us.

The Greek word *teleios* (G5046), translated as "perfect" in Matthew 5:48, carries a profound meaning rooted in the concept of thorough commitment to God, reflecting uprightness. This term can also be rendered as "mature" or "full-grown," and in some translations, it appears as "blameless." It parallels the wording in Leviticus 19:2, emphasizing a call to embody God's character. Just as Israel was set apart to reflect His fatherly and godly nature in the Old Testament, so too is the church tasked with carrying forward this distinctiveness, aiming to achieve the true character of God the Father through overcoming sin.

This section of Scripture introduces the concept of spiritual maturity that we must strive for. God has set the standard for us, as Paul states in verse 13: the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Our Savior exemplified spiritual maturity, never sinning even once. Thus, our goal is spiritual maturity or completion, measured against the absolute perfection of Christ. Though achieving perfect perfection or absolute spiritual maturity may not happen until our change comes, that remains the ultimate goal. Until then, the best way to reveal any remaining immaturity is by comparing ourselves against the absolute perfection of Christ. Should we strive for spiritual maturity and try to be complete Christians? Can we become spiritual grownups? Of course! By making the effort to grow and working to become complete, we carry out our responsibility. We must overcome and grow, striving for excellence in all we do, working with our might to become the complete, mature, perfect Christian. Dumbing down will not work in this endeavor. Even as we make mistakes and commit sins along the way, we can still become perfect. God, as the Master Puzzle Builder, is working to fill in our empty spots, and as we build character and endure trials, more pieces are added to our puzzle. True, godly love binds all the virtues together in perfection. So, when anyone claims that God knows us too well to demand perfection, do not believe it. We indeed can, and must, become perfect.