Re: [TruthTalk] Matthew 5:48 Coffman's Commentary and ABSOLUTE PERFECTION

[David Miller]

The problem with Coffman's commentary is that he defines being perfect in an absolute sense of having no room to grow.  This is NOT what Jesus meant.  Coffman's comments are fine with regard to absolute perfection and the Christian walk, but they do not apply properly to Mat. 5:48.  Jesus said, "THEREFORE" in Mat. 5:48, indicating that his statement is defined by what he said before.  We can be perfect as the heavenly Father in the same way that Jesus was perfect as the heavenly Father.  Jesus still grew in wisdom, and learned obedience by the things that he suffered as a man.  Jesus still said, "why call ye me good, there is none good but the Father" and "the Father is greater than me."  Jesus is our example of what is meant by being perfect as our heavenly Father.  Coffman is apparently a little mixed up on this one point.   Peace be with you. David Miller.     ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 8:24 AM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Matthew 5:48 Coffman's Commentary and ABSOLUTE PERFECTION DAVEH:  Sorry to interrupt, Glenn....But I'm curious why you think the Lord would give a commandment (Mt 5:48) that is impossible to keep?  Your thoughts.....? Coffman's Commentary says it much better than me.  It is a pardox. Verse 48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. No one can say that Christ did not set a high standard for man to follow! To be perfect as God is perfect, what a challenge this is! At the outset, every candid student of the Holy Scriptures should admit and understand that there is not the slightest possibility of his ever graduating from this school, "Magna cum Laude"! Nobody, but nobody is ever going to be perfect; and yet, it is the genius of the Christian religion that perfection is required of its adherents. A contradiction? No, only a paradox. The goal or ideal is necessary that man may continually know that he is unworthy of salvation, that he can never in a million years merit it, and that any real perfection he might eventually attain must be the free gift of Christ. Illustration: In a measure of music, in ordinary 4/4 or quadruple time, a single half-note fills the measure half-full; a dot after that note brings it to 3/4 full, another dot 7/8 full, another to 15/16 full, another to 31/32 full, and so on and on. If one added a million dots, the measure would never be full, for each dot would add only half the value of the preceding dot. In a manner of speaking, this is the way it is with perfection. One may fill the measure half-full by obeying the gospel and by giving up all forms of vicious conduct; but there will always be some improvement to make; and a Christian can keep on and on improving until the end of a long life without ever attaining absolute perfection. An apostle is our authority for saying that no man is above sin, actually. John said, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8,9). Nevertheless, how boldly Christ flung down the challenge! PERFECTION, Sir, that's what is required. Even if one were found so foolish as to believe he had attained it, his blindness to any sin would constitute the biggest sin of all. This verse, as much as any other in the Bible, throws man upon his knees and bids him trust in Christ alone for eternal life.