The Goal of Righteousness - Pastor Mike Hovland

Matthew 5:43–48

The final verse of Matthew 5 is one of the most challenging verses in all of Scripture. Jesus says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). In this section (5:42–48) we are called to love even our enemies (v. 44) , to be like our Father in heaven (v. 45), to do more  and go beyond what regular people are capable of (v. 46–47), and to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (v. 48). Christ calls us to a high standard indeed but what an amazing privilege the disciple has: to be transformed into the moral likeness of God himself!