Do the Ten Commandments apply to Christians today?

[atpollard]

So what does Christ mean when He declares...

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

FROM THE WORD AND LEXICONS:

"perfect" = τέλειος téleios, tel'-i-os; from G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.
[Thayer's Greek Lexicon]
τέλειος, τελεία, τέλειον (τέλος), in classic Greek sometimes also τέλειος, τέλειον (cf. Winers Grammar, § 11,1), from Homer down, the Sept. several times for שָׁלֵם, תָּמִים, etc.; properly, brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness; perfect: ἔργον, James 1:4; ἡ ἀγάπη, 1 John 4:18; ὁ νόμος, James 1:25; (δώρημα, James 1:17); τελειοτερα σκηνή, a more perfect (excellent) tabernacle, Hebrews 9:11; τό τέλειον, substantively, that which is perfect: consummate human integrity and virtue, Romans 12:2 (others take it here as an adjective belonging to θέλημα); the perfect state of all things, to be ushered in by the return of Christ from heaven, 1 Corinthians 13:10; of men, full-grown, adult; of full age, mature (Aeschylus Ag. 1504; Plato, legg. 11, p. 929{c}): Hebrews 5:14; τέλειος ἀνήρ (Xenophon, Cyril 1, 2, 4f; 8, 7, 6; Philo de cherub. § 32; opposed to παιδίον νήπιον, Polybius 5, 29, 2; for other examples from other authors see Bleek, Brief a. d. Hebrew ii., 2, p. 133f), μέχρι... εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, until we rise to the same level of knowledge which we ascribe to a full-grown man, until we can be likened to a full-grown man, Ephesians 4:13 (opposed to νήπιοι, 14); τέλειοι ταῖς φρεσί (opposed to παιδία and νηπιαζοντες ταῖς φρεσί), 1 Corinthians 14:20 (here A. V. men); absolutely, οἱ τέλειοι, the perfect, i. e. the more intelligent, ready to apprehend divine things, 1 Corinthians 2:6 (R. V. marginal reading full-grown) (opposed to νήπιοι ἐν Χριστῷ, 1 Corinthians 3:1; in simple opposed to νήπιος, Philo de legg. alleg. i. § 30; for מֵבִין, opposed to μαντανων, 1 Chronicles 25:8; (cf. Lightfoot on Colossians 1:28; Philippians 3:15)); of mind and character, one who has reached the proper height of virtue and integrity: Matthew 5:48; Matthew 19:21; Philippians 3:15 (cf. Lightfoot as above); James 1:4; in an absolute sense, of God: Matthew 5:48; τέλειος ἀνήρ, James 3:2 (τέλειος δίκαιος, Sir. 44:17); as respects understanding and goodness, Colossians 4:12; τέλειος ἄνθρωπος ἐν Χριστῷ, Colossians 1:28 (cf. Lightfoot as the synonym above: see ὁλόκληρος, and Trench, § xxii.).


FROM THE CONTEXT:

Matthew 5:38-48 [NLT]

38 "You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. 40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. ​

​

43 "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.​

• Note v.38-39 where Jesus contrasts what the LAW requires/allows and what God asks of us.
• Note v.43-44 where Jesus contrasts what the LAW requires/allows and what God asks of us.
• The entire section leading up to v.48 illustrates a call to respond to "hate" with "love" rather than merely the minimum that the Law requires. That is the key to understanding verse 48.
• LOVE is perfect. Jesus is calling us to "grow up" and LOVE as God loves. The "money verse" for an example is " If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that." Stop thinking and acting like a CHILD! Act like a complete, mature man ... ready to apprehend divine things ... and walk in LOVE as God walks in Love.

That is what "perfect" means in Matthew 5:48 ... it is a GIFT from God to the saved [Philippians 2:13 - For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.].