@ChrisW Counsel of Perfection is a Catholic understanding of Jesus's teaching in Matt 19:21. See wikipedia and Catholic Encyclopedia for more details. Those who are called to pursue this way to obtain perfection would take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience by joining a Catholic religious order.

@ChrisW As is clear from the encyclopedia article, it's "counsel" (optional) as opposed to "precept" (required) which has to be obeyed by all Christians. Matt 5:43-48 is "precept" because Christians need to have the character of God our Father who love us while we were still sinners, although of course if we remain sinners God would reject us on the Day of Judgment. The meaning of "perfect" here is different.

@GratefulDisciple Thanks for the cross-reference. I did find Matthew 19:21 difficult when I was child -- that and Matthew 8:19-22 as well -- difficult, and arguably not even sensible or kind, chaotic, to abandon home and family. It didn't occur to me that could, these days and at that time, be taken as an invitation to join a religious "order".

heh, just checked awards and discovered "Steward" for reviewing 1000 first posts. Hope all is well with each of you, hand is healing.

@ChrisW I posted a question on Matt 19:21 and Matt 5:48 from Catholic perspective. Note that Protestant interpretation differs. This article may be helpful for Matt 8:19-22, which possibly only applies to that particular person and that particular time where Jesus needs someone right away, but recorded to illustrate how we should resist when our family drags us away from Jesus.