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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
5:48 perfect. Jesus knew no believer could be sinlessly perfect (note, e.g., Matthew 6:14-15) in this life. Nevertheless, this must be the standard and the goal—not for gaining salvation but for living the Christian life. The word “perfect” also can be understood as “complete” or “fully mature,” but this state is no more attainable than sinless perfection—in fact, they are really the same. We do have such a standing in Christ, and we should perpetually seek to fulfill this standard by God’s help.
5:48 is perfect. God created a perfect world (Genesis 1:31); His word is also “perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7); “His work is perfect,…without iniquity” (Deuteronomy 32:4); “His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30); and we are exhorted to “prove what is that…perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).