(1) To what high standard is Jesus calling us here?

When I listen to Jesus' words as they echo in my head and heart I hear
Him calling us to a higher order of living. Jesus wants us to love all people
even those who are our enemies. Jesus asks us to pray for those who
persecute us.

Jesus is calling us to love those who not only love those who love us in
return but also to love those who do not love us in return. To show love
to all people is an attribute of God.


(2) What reason does Jesus give for calling us to this standard?

Jesus wants us to love all people , because when we love only those
who love us then we are doing no better than the pagans. Jesus wants
to call us to a higher order of love in which we are indiscriminate , showing
love to all.

(3) Notice Christ's use of the word perfect in verse 48. What is the meaning of perfect here, and how can the use of the word here help us understand what it means to be perfect like "our Father in heaven" is perfect?

In this passage Jesus is talking about the love that we show to each other
and how we treat our enemies. We we pray for our enemies , and we show
love to everyone we are manifesting the character of God.

Jesus wants us to understand that this is the type of love that the Father
has. To practice this type of love is displaying a maturity of character which
is seen in the Father.

In this passage to be perfect as the Father is perfect means to show the
quality of love toward everyone that Jesus describes in the previous
verses.

What painful and deep changes must you make if you are going to follow Christ's words in these verses?

I like the way that Jesus clears us this whole perfection business.
Its really about the way we treat one another with love and kindness
even those how are our enemies.

Jesus has a lot of work to do in me , in regards to this passage. Jesus
words are very radical if you look at all the implications it may have for
your life. It changes the familiar associations we have , the cliques we form,
the exclusive attitude we tote about in our religion. It changes the partiality
we show in our love and our service for others.The reality is that sometimes
you have to do good for those who dislike you, and those who cause you to
stay in prayer to deal with them.

The most beautiful thing about this is that God is calling us to be His
children. He wants us to be in the family of God , and when we love
the way He loves we most assuredly show that God is our Father.

Prayer: Father please teach us to love, teach us to live , teach us to let got and let you have your with within us. Father we confess that our love is substandard and we need a more complete development of love. We have been partial, and fickle, selective , and unfair in our love. You blazed the trial , and set the path for us with your Son, Oh father teach us to love please. Thank you in Jesus name Amen.