The Jews had been wearily toiling to reach perfection by their own efforts, and they had failed. Christ had already told them that their righteousness could never enter the kingdom of heaven. Now He points out to them the character of the righteousness that all who enter heaven will possess. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount He describes its fruits, and now in one sentence He points out its source and its nature: Be perfect as God is perfect. The law is but a transcript of the character of God. Behold in your heavenly Father a perfect manifestation of the principles which are the foundation of His government.

Han siger til os, at vi skal være fuldkomne, ligesom han er fuldkommen være det på samme måde. Vi skal være en kilde til lys og velsignelse i vor lille kreds, ligesom han er det for hele verden. I os selv har vi intet, men hans kærligheds lys skinner på os, og vi skal være genskin af dets glans. Gode i kraft af den godhed, vi låner fra ham, kan vi være fuldkomne på vort område, ligesom Gud er fuldkommen på sit område.