What Does Matthew 5:48 Mean in the King James?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The perfection Jesus names is love brought to completion by crossing the boundary of reciprocity.
THE MEANING
This verse measures wholeness by the Father’s love, which extends beyond those who return it. In the lines just before it, that love reaches even enemies, like the sun and rain given to both the good and the evil. That same measure speaks to the reader now.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that perfection means never making a mistake: the word carries the sense of completeness, and the passage locates that completeness in love extended even to enemies.
THE ROOT
τέλειοι
teleioi
GROWS FROM
τέλος
telos
The Greek base τέλος (telos) means an end, aim, or intended outcome; τέλειος (teleios) describes what is complete or mature, having reached its full measure.
“perfect” in this verse is teleioi. The same word describes both the reader and the Father: the measure is love brought to its full reach. In the surrounding lines, that reach includes enemies, so completeness here is not flawlessness but love that extends beyond reciprocity.
ALSO GROWS
teleioō: To complete, fulfill, or bring to its intended end.
τελειόω
This verb shows completion as something brought to its full measure, illuminating the kind of perfection named here.
teleiotēs: Completeness or maturity.
τελειότης
This related noun keeps the sense of wholeness and maturity present in the word translated “perfect.”
THE PATTERN
The Father’s wholeness is revealed in love that reaches beyond reciprocity.
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.Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.THE THREAD
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.James uses the same Greek word family for becoming complete and whole. It presents perfection as reaching a full measure, illuminating how Matthew 5:48 describes love brought to its full reach.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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