Matthew 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

That {G3704} ye may be {G1096} the children {G5207} of your {G5216} Father {G3962} which {G3588} is in {G1722} heaven {G3772}: for {G3754} he maketh {G393} his {G846} sun {G2246} to rise {G393} on {G1909} the evil {G4190} and {G2532} on the good {G18}, and {G2532} sendeth rain {G1026} on {G1909} the just {G1342} and {G2532} on the unjust {G94}.

Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

Matthew 5:45 KJV is a pivotal verse within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, offering a profound reason and model for radical love. It explains that by extending kindness universally, believers demonstrate their identity as children of their heavenly Father, who shows impartial goodness to all.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' challenging command in Matthew 5:44 to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:45 provides the divine justification and example for this difficult directive, urging followers to reflect God's own expansive character.

Key Themes

  • God's Universal Grace: The verse highlights God's "common grace," His benevolent provision of essential elements like sun and rain that sustain all life, regardless of a person's moral standing. This demonstrates His inherent goodness extended to both the righteous and the unrighteous.
  • Imitating God: A central theme is the call for believers to mirror the character of their heavenly Father. By loving and doing good impartially, they show they are truly His children, embodying His nature.
  • Divine Impartiality: God does not discriminate in providing basic necessities for life based on human merit or wickedness. This serves as a powerful contrast to typical human tendencies towards favoritism or retribution.
  • Motivation for Loving Enemies: The verse provides the ultimate motivation for loving those who oppose us: to be like God, who is good even to the evil.

Linguistic Insights

While the language of sun and rain is simple and direct, the power lies in the phrase "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." This isn't merely about bearing the title "children of God," but about actively *demonstrating* that relationship through actions that reflect the Father's character. The provision of sun and rain is presented as tangible evidence of God's nature, which believers are called to emulate.

Reflection and Application

Matthew 5:45 challenges believers to move beyond reciprocal love (loving only those who love them) and embrace a divine standard of universal kindness. Practically, this means showing respect, fairness, and perhaps even tangible help to people we disagree with, who have wronged us, or who hold different beliefs. It calls us to look for ways to bless and contribute positively to the lives of all people we encounter, reflecting the generous heart of God. This radical, impartial love is a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the transformative power of Christ. This principle is also echoed in Luke 6:35-36, which encourages followers to be merciful, just as their Father is merciful.

Unique Angle

Consider the profound simplicity Jesus uses: the sun rising and the rain falling. These are fundamental, undeniable aspects of the natural world that everyone experiences daily. By pointing to these basic realities, Jesus illustrates God's character in a way that is universally observable and irrefutable. He grounds the lofty call to love enemies in the most common, tangible evidence of God's persistent goodness towards His entire creation, making the expectation for His followers both clear and compelling.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 145:9

    The LORD [is] good to all: and his tender mercies [are] over all his works.

  • Luke 6:35

    But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

  • Acts 14:17

    Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

  • Job 25:3

    Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

  • Ephesians 5:1

    ¶ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

  • Matthew 5:9

    Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

  • John 13:35

    By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

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