be perfect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus teaches in Matthew 5, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.”

Perfect is not the same as perfection.

 

Perfection demands striving and achieving.

Perfect invites beholding and becoming.

 

Perfection sets a standard that must be achieved.

Perfect reveals a quality of heart that can only be received.

 

Perfection breeds performance.

Perfect welcomes relationship.

 

Perfection excludes others with prejudice.

Perfect embraces enemies with blessing.

 

Perfection requires people to change before they are accepted.

Perfect accepts them as they are.

 

Perfection is a curse.

Perfect is a blessing.

 

Perfection enslaves us with never quite getting there.

Perfect frees us to become.

 

Perfection reeks of Hell.

Perfect has the aroma of Heaven.

 

Perfection resigns its victims in despair.

Perfect revels in joy.

 

Perfection revolves around the protection of self.

Perfect orients around the love of other.

 

Perfection depreciates through criticism.

Perfect appreciates through encouragement.

 

Perfection struggles with impossibility.

Perfect thrives in possibilities.

 

Perfection demands proofs.

Perfect exudes a winsome witness.

 

Perfection insists on “right.”

Perfect loves “real.”

 

Perfection smacks of gotcha.

Perfect emanates grace.

 

Perfection lowers through comparison.

Perfect lifts through Love.

 

Perfection cries foul and demands its own standard of justice.

Perfect revels in generosity

 

Perfection emphasizes the letter of the law.

Perfect captures the spirit of grace.

 

Perfection examines the outward appearance.

Perfect looks on the heart.

 

Perfection enforces the rules.

Perfect delights in the truth.

 

Perfection is exacting in judgment.

Perfect forgives flaws and faults.

 

Perfection exploits sin.

Perfect covers sin.

 

Perfection traffics in prestige, pride, and power.

Perfect seeks meekness, purity and peace.

 

Perfection struggles to take the seats of honor.

Perfect takes the last place.

 

Perfection lives to be served.

Perfect lives to serve.

 

Perfection stones sinners.

Perfect pardons sinners.

 

Perfection calculates a tithe.

Perfect puts in their last two coins.

 

Perfection banishes to hell.

Perfect invites a dying thief into paradise.

 

Perfection assesses quickly and never gets past the face value.

Perfect seeks deeper for understanding.

 

Perfection crucifies Perfect.

Perfect rises from the dead and puts perfection in the grave.

 

(these perfect vs perfection statements are taken from the Asbury Reader from Asbury Theological Seminary)