Matthew 5:45

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 5:45, a pivotal verse within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, provides the divine rationale and model for the radical command to love one's enemies. It asserts that by extending impartial kindness and benevolence to all people, including those who are hostile, believers demonstrate their true identity as children of their heavenly Father, who Himself bestows His universal blessings of sun and rain upon both the wicked and the righteous without discrimination. This verse calls disciples to embody God's expansive, unconditional goodness in their interactions with the world.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic justification for Jesus' revolutionary command in [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies") 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." It directly counters the prevailing "eye for an eye" mentality and the limited love for "neighbor only" that Jesus addresses earlier in the [Sermon on the Mount](/matthew/5 "Matthew 5 - The Beatitudes and Fulfillment of the Law"). Following this, [Matthew 5:46-47](/matthew/5-46-47 "Matthew 5:46-47 - What Reward Do You Have?") further emphasizes the distinction between conventional human love and the divine standard, asking what reward there is for loving only those who love you, and noting that even tax collectors do the same. Verse 48 then culminates with the profound exhortation, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," directly linking perfection to the impartial love demonstrated in verse 45.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' teachings here directly challenged the prevailing social norms and religious interpretations of His day. First-century Jewish society, while valuing love for one's neighbor, often interpreted "neighbor" narrowly, excluding enemies or Gentiles. The concept of "hate your enemy" (though not explicitly found in the Old Testament, it was a common rabbinic interpretation derived from passages like [Deuteronomy 23:6](/deuteronomy/23-6 "Deuteronomy 23:6 - Do Not Seek Their Peace")) was widespread. Jesus' audience included disciples, Pharisees, and common people, all of whom would have understood the profound counter-cultural nature of His command. The imagery of the sun and rain was universally understood as essential for life and prosperity, making God's impartial provision a powerful and undeniable example of His character, especially in an agrarian society dependent on these elements.
* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 5:45](/matthew/5-45 "Matthew 5:45 - God's Impartial Provision") contributes to several major themes within the Sermon on the Mount and the broader Gospel of Matthew. Firstly, it highlights **God's Universal Grace**, often termed "common grace," which refers to His benevolent provision of essential elements like sun and rain that sustain all life, regardless of a person's moral or spiritual standing. This demonstrates His inherent goodness extended to both the righteous and the unrighteous. Secondly, a central theme is the **Imitation of God**, calling believers to mirror the character of their heavenly Father. By loving and doing good impartially, they demonstrate that they are truly His children, embodying His nature, as further emphasized in [Matthew 5:48](/matthew/5-48 "Matthew 5:48 - Be Perfect as Your Father"). Thirdly, the verse underscores **Divine Impartiality**, showing that God does not discriminate in providing basic necessities for life based on human merit or wickedness, serving as a powerful contrast to typical human tendencies towards favoritism or retribution. Finally, it provides the ultimate **Motivation for Loving Enemies**, grounding this difficult command in the very character of God, who is good even to the evil.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **be (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This verb, G1096, signifies "to become," "come into being," or "to be." In this context, it's not merely about bearing the title "children of God" but about actively *demonstrating* that relationship through actions that reflect the Father's character. It implies a process of transformation and a visible manifestation of one's spiritual lineage. To "be" the children of God means to act like God.
* **evil (Greek, _ponērós'_):** G4190, this word describes those who are "hurtful," "malicious," or "wicked." It refers to those whose character or actions are morally culpable and have a harmful effect. Jesus' use of this term emphasizes the radical nature of God's grace and the call for His followers to extend love even to those who are fundamentally opposed to goodness or who actively seek to do harm.
* **sendeth rain (Greek, _bréchō'_):** G1026, a primary verb meaning "to moisten," especially by a shower, or "to send rain." This word, alongside "maketh his sun to rise," highlights God's active, ongoing, and universal provision of life-sustaining elements. It underscores the tangible and undeniable nature of God's common grace, which is given freely and indiscriminately to all humanity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:"** This clause presents the ultimate purpose and identity for the disciples' radical love. It's not merely a command to obey, but an invitation to live out their true spiritual heritage. By imitating God's impartial love, they authenticate their relationship as His children, reflecting His divine nature to the world.
* **"for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,"** This provides the divine example and justification. God Himself, as the heavenly Father, demonstrates universal benevolence. The rising sun, a daily, undeniable, and essential source of life and warmth, is given to all, without regard for moral standing. "Evil" refers to the wicked, while "good" refers to the morally upright, illustrating God's non-discriminatory provision.
* **"and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."** This further reinforces God's impartial provision with another vital life-sustaining element. Rain, crucial for agriculture and survival, is also bestowed upon everyone. "Just" refers to the righteous, those who live in accordance with God's law, while "unjust" refers to the unrighteous, those who violate it. Together, the sun and rain encapsulate God's comprehensive and unbiased care for all humanity, serving as the perfect model for His children.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 5:45 employs several significant literary devices. **Symbolism** is prominent, with the sun and rain serving as powerful symbols of God's universal and indiscriminate common grace. These natural phenomena, essential for all life, represent God's fundamental goodness and provision extended to every person, regardless of their moral standing. There is also an element of **Paradox** in the underlying command of [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies") (to love enemies), which this verse justifies. It challenges human intuition and societal norms that typically reserve kindness for friends and retribution for foes. The verse also functions as a powerful example of **Didacticism**, using God's observable actions in creation as a direct teaching model for human behavior. Jesus points to a self-evident truth about God's character to instruct His disciples on how they ought to live. Finally, the verse implicitly uses **Imitation** as a rhetorical strategy, urging believers to mirror the divine character, thereby validating their identity as God's children.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 5:45 is a profound statement on the nature of God and the call to Christian discipleship. It reveals God's character as one of expansive, indiscriminate love and generosity, often termed "common grace." This grace is not salvific but is a demonstration of His goodness that sustains all humanity, providing the conditions necessary for life and even for repentance ([Romans 2:4](/romans/2-4 "Romans 2:4 - God's Kindness Leads to Repentance")). The verse challenges believers to reflect this divine attribute, moving beyond reciprocal love to a radical, impartial benevolence that transcends human categories of deservingness. This imitation of God is central to Jesus' teaching on perfection in [Matthew 5:48](/matthew/5-48 "Matthew 5:48 - Be Perfect as Your Father"), where the call to be "perfect" is understood not as sinless flawlessness, but as completeness in love, mirroring the Father's comprehensive goodness.

* [Luke 6:35-36](/luke/6-35-36 "Luke 6:35-36 - Love Your Enemies and Be Merciful")
* [Acts 14:17](/acts/14-17 "Acts 14:17 - God's Witness Through Provision")
* [Romans 2:4](/romans/2-4 "Romans 2:4 - God's Kindness Leads to Repentance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 5:45 calls believers to a transformative and counter-cultural way of living. It challenges us to move beyond the natural human inclination to love only those who love us, or to be kind only to those who are kind to us. Instead, it urges us to embrace a divine standard of universal kindness and impartial benevolence. Practically, this means intentionally seeking the good of others, even those we disagree with, those who have wronged us, or those who hold different beliefs. It compels us to show respect, fairness, and even tangible help to those who might be considered "enemies" or "unjust" in our eyes. This radical, impartial love is not born of sentimentality but is a conscious act of obedience and a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the transformative power of Christ within us. It invites us to participate in God's ongoing work of sustaining and blessing His entire creation, reflecting His generous heart in every interaction.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways can I demonstrate impartial kindness to someone I consider an "enemy" or someone who has wronged me?**
* **How does my daily life reflect God's universal provision of sun and rain, or do I tend to limit my generosity only to those I deem "deserving"?**
* **What prejudices or biases might prevent me from extending God's impartial love to certain individuals or groups, and how can I overcome them?**

### FAQ
**Does "children of your Father" in this verse imply that all people are children of God?**

Answer: No, this verse does not imply that all people are children of God in a salvific sense. In the New Testament, "children of God" (or "sons of God") typically refers to those who have been spiritually reborn through faith in Jesus Christ ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "John 1:12 - Children of God by Faith")). Here, in [Matthew 5:45](/matthew/5-45 "Matthew 5:45 - God's Impartial Provision"), the phrase "that ye may be the children of your Father" is a call for believers—those who have already entered into a relationship with God through faith—to *act like* their Father. It's about demonstrating their spiritual lineage through imitation of His character, specifically His impartial benevolence. God is the Creator and Sustainer of all humanity, so in a broad sense, all are His creatures. However, only those who believe in Christ are His adopted children, heirs to His promises, and called to reflect His nature in the way described in this verse.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 5:45 finds its ultimate fulfillment and most profound expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect embodiment of the heavenly Father's impartial love, demonstrating it not just through words, but through His entire life, ministry, and sacrificial death. Jesus consistently extended grace to the marginalized, the outcast, and even those who opposed Him, dining with tax collectors and sinners ([Matthew 9:10-13](/matthew/9-10-13 "Matthew 9:10-13 - Jesus Eats with Sinners")), healing the sick regardless of their social standing, and teaching even those who sought to trap Him. His ultimate act of impartial love was His death on the cross, where He, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love for Sinners")). On the cross, He prayed for His persecutors, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus Prays for His Persecutors")), perfectly mirroring the Father's indiscriminate blessing upon the "evil" and "unjust." Through His resurrection, Jesus made it possible for humanity to truly "become the children of your Father which is in heaven," not merely by imitation, but by spiritual adoption and transformation ([Galatians 4:4-7](/galatians/4-4-7 "Galatians 4:4-7 - Adoption as Sons")). Thus, Matthew 5:45 is not just a command to imitate God, but a call to live out the new nature given through Christ, who perfectly revealed and enacted the Father's boundless love.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.