Our Heavenly Father
Pastor Marty Monday, June 19, 2017 at 5:29PM Matthew 5:43-48. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on Father’s Day, June 18, 2017.
This weekend I entered a new stage of life when my first child was married. He begins that new stage of life for him in which he creates a new home of his own with the young woman whom he loves. Whether you have seen either of these stages yet or not, our passage today speaks to us today about looking to our Heavenly Father and asking Him to teach us to be good, earthly fathers.
Father’s have a purpose
Verse 48 of this passage hits all of us like a ton of bricks and we will deal with it more as we go along. However, I want us to notice that this whole section is about how those who want to follow the wisdom of Jesus will follow him in being like the Heavenly Father. So, instead of starting with the impossible command to “be perfect,” let’s start with the sense of belonging and purpose that is the foundation of what Jesus has to say. We have a Heavenly Father and we are meant to choose to be like Him in our actions. This really is a wonderful thing.
In fact, Jesus points out in verse 43 that they had heard it said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.” Now the first part of this sentence comes from the Law of Moses. Though Jesus doesn’t specifically point this out, it is worth recognizing that they heard this because the Heavenly Father had spoken to them through Moses and later through others. God has not been silent, but has spoken some very clear things to mankind. The Bible is the collection of those words throughout time. With that said, you will not find a place in the Old Testament where they were commanded to hate their enemies. God had not actually said this. They heard this part from those who thought they were safely speaking what God intends. Perhaps the logic could go like this. God is going to judge his enemies who hate him, so we should hate them. So within this one statement Jesus reminds us of that mix of instructions that come to people, some from God and some from religious leaders that goes beyond God’s Word and even contrary to it. There is only one Son of God that perfectly represents the Heavenly Father and speaks only what the Father told him to say, and that is Jesus. Thus we can read the Word, but even more, we can hear what the One and Only Son of God, Jesus, who can help us perfectly understand what our Father is saying. Now I would point out here that earthly fathers who want to be like the Heavenly Father should be faithful to speak to their kids in appropriate ways at appropriate times. Be a good representative of our Heavenly Father to your children and properly point them to Him. Be careful of inserting your own ideas without prefacing them with the fact that they are just that. Kids need to know that as you speak to them, so has God.
In verse 45, Jesus goes beyond speaking. He reminds us that God has given us examples. We can look at all the goodness and provision of creation and recognize that it is given to the righteous and the unrighteous alike, without distinction. Even those who make themselves enemies of God receive massive amounts of kindness from Him. Thus Jesus points us to learn from the example of God. Fathers, let’s not forget that our life and the way it is lived must be a good example for our kids. Yes, they need to hear our words, but our actions often speak louder than words. So pay attention to the example you are setting.
So with the Word of God and the example of God, it is our purpose to become “sons of our father in heaven.” I believe that this is key to understanding what Jesus is driving at in verse 48. It is in the context of being a son of the Heavenly Father that we are called to “be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.” Now the word “perfect” in the original language has the sense of that which is complete, finished, or has come to maturity. Since we are speaking of humans and their heavenly father, maturity is the concept which fits best. And, we should note that spiritual maturity is clearly intended. The emphasis is not a lack of error or sin, as the English may imply. Rather it is on becoming what you are intended to be. You were created to be like God, to bear His image in this life. Of course that is a tall order and yet we are in good company. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14,
“12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”
The words that I have emboldened and underlined are translated differently but they come from the same Greek word. Now my point is not to point out that they are translated wrong. But that they are the same word used in Matthew 5:48 for “perfect.” In Paul’s passage he uses the word in two different ways. In verse 12 he is stating that even he, the Apostle Paul, had not been completely finished. He was still in the flesh, and was not without sin. Thus this first use is that which sees that he falls short of all that God has for him. But in verse 15, he uses it to emphasize those who have spiritually grown up and are mature Christians. He clearly sees himself as a part of this group. Maturity is a funny thing. When a child is 1 year old and they are starting to walk and talk, we might speak of them as being perfect. They are exactly where they should be in their development for their age. So an 18 year old has a far higher bar to reach in order to be considered mature. Though Paul had room for improvement, he was a mature Christian, one who understood the Father’s purpose and walked in conformity with it.
Now back to Matthew 5:48. If we see the word “perfect” in the first sense of which Paul speaks, then the verse is stating that we (in the future) will be perfect, which will mainly be God’s work in our life. This is true, but doesn’t seem to fit the context well. But the second sense that Paul uses fits perfectly. When we look to our Heavenly Father’s example and listen to His words, our lives will grow to be like Him and we will become mature believers in this life (and sinless beings after the resurrection). May we all press forward each day to be like our Father in Heaven. Of course this is the joy of any father, to see their child grow up and become a mature adult (and to be like us in our best ways).
Fathers have a Heavenly Father
I have already made this clear. But I want to push this part a bit further. Earthly fathers don’t always live out this purpose that God has for them. Our culture continually pumps a philosophy that promotes living life for yourself, and this contradicts God’s Word. When we think about God it is important for us to understand that He is not just more mature than us. He truly is without error and sin. If there is something that we think He has done wrong, then we are the one in error. More than likely we are missing information that God has. However, it is quite possible that our judgment is not as wise and righteous as we think. Even if you had the worst of earthly fathers, nothing can change the fact that you have a Heavenly Father who is good and perfect. He has been working, and is even now working in your life just as a good father would do. In fact, in many ways the best thing a father can do is to help their child to recognize that he and they are both children of the same Heavenly Father. In that sense we are helping our kids to grow up and take their place side by side with us before God.
As Jesus mentioned in verse 46 and 47, it is not the presence of love that makes us like Him. It is the prevalence of our love that makes us like Him. Yes, we are going to mess up and fall down in trying to be like our Heavenly Father. But He loves us no matter what. Here is the logic. If God even loves His enemies enough to provide for them even in their rebellion, how much will He love and provide for us who are His children? Clearly, He will move Heaven and Earth to love and help us. Thus, parents, do your best to demonstrate that kind of love and mercy to your children. And, when you fail be quick to admit it and ask forgiveness. This will help them to see God in a clearly light. Yet, children don’t always agree with what a parent thinks is the loving thing to do. When we talk about tough love, we recognize that sometimes love is difficult. Even though a kid may think their parents hate them, generally as they mature they recognize that it wasn’t hate. It was love and concern. Perhaps we should think of this in regard to our Heavenly Father. Yes, He may discipline us from time to time and we are often tempted to think that God hates us or has rejected us. But the truth is that He loves us very much and only has a good goal in mind for us.
So we must learn to rest in His ability to help us. As a Father, verse 48 is not being put in front of us as some impossible task. Yes, it is tough, but we have a Heavenly Father that will help us to accomplish it. We can rest in the fact that HE is not trying to disqualify us. Rather, He will finish that good work which He has begun in us. In fact, through our own death and resurrection, He will help us to even be without sin and error. What a day that will be!
Father’s, don’t let yourself get discouraged to the point that you quit being a father. Take it one day at a time and engage with your children at whatever stage they are in. Daily take the time to look to your Heavenly Father for strength, wisdom, and direction. And, learn to follow the Holy Spirit as He enables you to both overcome your own sin, and become more and more like Jesus. God hasn’t left you alone to accomplish it all. He has put His Spirit within you to help you fight the good fight. So let’s cooperate with Him and, as Paul said in Philippians 3:13, “forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forward…I press toward the goal.” Let go of the mistakes and failures and reach forward to what He has for you.