In this episode of Witnessing Christ from the New Testament, Jon and Casey dive into Matthew 5 and Luke 6.
This podcast episode covers the following:
Matthew 5:1–48
Luke 6:1–49
Key concepts in this episode include:
Share the article "How is Perfection Achieved?" with your LDS friend when the topic of perfection or Matthew 5:48 is being discussed.
Read through and share "What is the Purpose of God's Law?" with your LDS friend.
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Click here to download a Bible Study outline to use with your Mormon friends, family, and missionaries.
Share this conversation starter with your LDS friend:
Where do you find rest? Is it in the "do" of Matthew 5:48 or in the "done for you" of Matthew 5:17?
Matthew 5:48 says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus draws attention to the impossibility of keeping the law even before this verse by bringing up lustful thoughts and hateful attitudes. Even these, he says, are "subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:22). In the very last verse, he simply says to be perfect. If I had to live up to perfection, my days would be hopeless. My life would be a never-ending question of "am I enough?"
Matthew 5:48 opens my eyes to the truth that I could never rely on myself for perfection, or enoughness, in my Father's eyes. Instead, I lean into Matthew 5:17, where Jesus says, "do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." He fulfilled the law and all of its requirements for me. Trusting in Jesus means I rest in his perfection instead of my own. I trust that Jesus is enough.
