Is anyone perfect? Why did Christ command perfection if it isn't achievable?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, we must distinguish between divine perfection, which belongs to God alone, and human perfection, which is a state of maturity and wholeness in Christ.
Is Anyone Perfect?
Strictly speaking, no human being is perfect by their own nature or "according to true and consummate justice." As the Church Fathers teach—including St. Jerome—no creature can be perfect in the same way God is. Even the greatest saints, such as the Apostle Paul, described themselves as "chief among sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).
While we honor the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, as being "full of grace" and the "pure incense," and we recognize the saints as being "perfected" in glory, their perfection is a participatory perfection. It is a gift granted by the Holy Spirit because they united their will to God’s will. Among men, there are "different measures of justice," where one may be more advanced than another, but all fall short of the absolute holiness of God.
Why Did Christ Command It If It Isn't Achievable?
The Lord Christ commanded: "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). This is not a legalistic demand to be flawless through human effort, but rather an invitation for several reasons:
1. The Absolute Character of the Commandments
As noted in the teachings of the Fathers, the divine commandments of Christ possess an absolute character because they reflect the nature of God Himself. To lower the standard to "humanly achievable" would be to strip the commandments of their divine spirit and truth. God calls us to what is high so that we never stop growing.
2. Perfection as "Maturity" and "Teleiosis"
In the original Greek and the Coptic understanding, "perfection" often refers to teleios, which means reaching an end goal or becoming "mature" or "complete." Christ is commanding us to reach the full potential of what a human being was created to be—the image and likeness of God.
3. Dependence on Grace
Christ gives the command to show us that we cannot fulfill it on our own. It forces us to realize our "great stupidity" and "listlessness" when we rely on ourselves. When we realize the standard is "The Father," we are driven to the Sacraments (the Mysteries) to receive the life of Christ. St. John Chrysostom notes that Christ "succeeded" as a Man so that He could give that success to us. We do not achieve perfection; we receive it by being in Him.
4. The Goal of the Struggle
The goal of our life is "eternity with Christ." The commandments are like a compass; even if we haven't reached the destination, the compass must point to true north. If the commandment were "be mediocre," we would stagnate. By setting the goal as "perfection," the Church ensures that the "corporate life of human beings" continues to "wax strong in spirit" and "be filled with wisdom" (cf. Luke 2:40).
5. Healing vs. Achievement
In our theology, Christ is the Physician. A physician does not demand that a patient walk perfectly the first day after surgery; however, the "command" or the goal of the treatment is total health. We are in a state of "imperfect condition," but by striving for the commandment, we allow the Physician to remove the disease and restore us to the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
The commandment is not a burden to crush us, but a "crown of justice" held out before us to encourage our struggle. We are called to "be bold" because, as Christ said, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). He overcame it as a Man so that we, as humans, could participate in His victory.