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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 5:45 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-45.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/40_Mat_05_45.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 5:45 - Love Your Enemies" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. 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He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/nlt/matthew/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> 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. <a href="/esv/matthew/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. <a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/blb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> so that you may be sons of your Father in the heavens. For He makes His sun rise on evil and good, and He sends rain on righteous and unrighteous. <a href="/kjv/matthew/5.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/5.htm">New King James Version</a> that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. <a href="/nasb_/matthew/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/nasb/matthew/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/nasb77/matthew/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/lsb/matthew/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/amp/matthew/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. <a href="/csb/matthew/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/hcsb/matthew/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/asv/matthew/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/matthew/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. <a href="/erv/matthew/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> that ye may be sons of your Father which 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. <a href="/gwt/matthew/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. <a href="/gnt/matthew/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. <a href="/isv/matthew/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> so that you will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/msb/matthew/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/net/matthew/5.htm">NET Bible</a> so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <a href="/nheb/matthew/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. <a href="/wbt/matthew/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> That ye may be the children of your Father who 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. <a href="/wey/matthew/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> that so you may become true sons of your Father in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the wicked as well as the good, and sends rain upon those who do right and those who do wrong. <a href="/web/matthew/5.htm">World English Bible</a> that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> that you may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because He causes His sun to rise on evil and good, and He sends rain on righteous and unrighteous. <a href="/blb/matthew/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> so that you may be sons of your Father in the heavens. For He makes His sun rise on evil and good, and He sends rain on righteous and unrighteous. <a href="/ylt/matthew/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous. <a href="/slt/matthew/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> So that ye might be sons of your Father, which in the heavens: for he makes his sun rise upon evil and good, and rains on the just and unjust.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust. <a href="/nabre/matthew/5.htm">New American Bible</a> that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> So that you may become sons of your Father who is in heaven, who causes his sun to shine upon the good and upon the bad, and who pours down his rain upon the just and upon the unjust. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> So that you will become the children of your Father who is in Heaven, for his sun rises on the good and upon the evil and his rain descends on the just and on the unjust.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> that you may be the sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and causes it to rain on the just and on the unjust. <a href="/godbey/matthew/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>in order that you may be the sons of your Father who is in the heavens: because He raises up His sun on the wicked and on the good, and rains on the righteous and on the unrighteous.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he causeth his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and tendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. <a href="/mace/matthew/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a> that ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. <a href="/wey/matthew/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> that so you may become true sons of your Father in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the wicked as well as the good, and sends rain upon those who do right and those who do wrong. <a href="/worrell/matthew/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>that ye may be sons of your Father Who is in Heaven; because He causeth His sun to rise on evil men and on good, and sendeth rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>that ye may be the children of your heavenly Father; for He causeth his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/5-45.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=1181" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/5.htm">Love Your Enemies</a> …44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45<a href="/greek/3704.htm" title="3704: hopōs (Conj) -- From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual).">that</a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: genēsthe (V-ASM-2P) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">you may be</a> <a href="/greek/5207.htm" title="5207: huioi (N-NMP) -- A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a son, used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.">sons</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: Patros (N-GMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">Father</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/3772.htm" title="3772: ouranois (N-DMP) -- Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.">heaven.</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/393.htm" title="393: anatellei (V-PIA-3S) -- To make to rise, I rise, shine (generally of the sun, and hence met.). From ana and the base of telos; to arise.">He causes</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/2246.htm" title="2246: hēlion (N-AMS) -- The sun, sunlight. From hele; the sun; by implication, light.">sun to rise</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</a> <a href="/greek/4190.htm" title="4190: ponērous (Adj-AMP) -- Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. ">the evil</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/18.htm" title="18: agathous (Adj-AMP) -- A primary word; good.">the good,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/1026.htm" title="1026: brechei (V-PIA-3S) -- To moisten, rain, send rain. A primary verb; to moisten.">sends rain</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</a> <a href="/greek/1342.htm" title="1342: dikaious (Adj-AMP) -- From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.">the righteous</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/94.htm" title="94: adikous (Adj-AMP) -- Unjust, unrighteous, wicked. Specially, heathen.">the unrighteous.</a> 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Luke 6:35</a> But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. <a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Acts 14:17</a> Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” <a href="/james/1-17.htm">James 1:17</a> Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. <a href="/romans/12-20.htm">Romans 12:20-21</a> On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. <a href="/ephesians/5-1.htm">Ephesians 5:1</a> Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, <a href="/1_john/4-7.htm">1 John 4:7-8</a> Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. <a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15-16</a> But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” <a href="/galatians/6-10.htm">Galatians 6:10</a> Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith. <a href="/philippians/2-15.htm">Philippians 2:15</a> so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world <a href="/1_john/3-10.htm">1 John 3:10</a> By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. <a href="/proverbs/25-21.htm">Proverbs 25:21-22</a> If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Genesis 1:26-27</a> Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” / So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. <a href="/leviticus/19-2.htm">Leviticus 19:2</a> “Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. <a href="/psalms/145-9.htm">Psalm 145:9</a> The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made. <a href="/job/25-3.htm">Job 25:3</a> Can His troops be numbered? On whom does His light not rise?</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.ye.<a href="/matthew/5-9.htm">Matthew 5:9</a> Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.<a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Luke 6:35</a> 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.<a href="/john/13-35.htm">John 13:35</a> By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.for.<a href="/job/25-3.htm">Job 25:3</a> Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?<a href="/psalms/145-9.htm">Psalm 145:9</a> The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.<a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Acts 14:17</a> 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.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Causes</a> <a href="/matthew/5-9.htm">Children</a> <a href="/matthew/5-39.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/matthew/5-39.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/matthew/5-44.htm">Good</a> <a href="/matthew/5-34.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/matthew/5-16.htm">Light</a> <a href="/matthew/5-41.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-18.htm">Rain</a> <a href="/matthew/5-39.htm">Right</a> <a href="/matthew/1-19.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/matthew/2-20.htm">Rise</a> <a href="/matthew/5-31.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/malachi/3-18.htm">Sinner</a> <a href="/malachi/4-2.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/matthew/4-14.htm">True.</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-5.htm">Unjust</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-5.htm">Unrighteous</a> <a href="/matthew/1-19.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/matthew/5-39.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/matthew/3-6.htm">Wrong</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/6-25.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/matthew/13-41.htm">Causes</a> <a href="/matthew/7-11.htm">Children</a> <a href="/matthew/6-13.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/matthew/6-26.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/matthew/5-47.htm">Good</a> <a href="/matthew/5-48.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/matthew/6-23.htm">Light</a> <a href="/matthew/7-8.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/matthew/25-19.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/matthew/7-25.htm">Rain</a> <a href="/matthew/6-3.htm">Right</a> <a href="/matthew/9-13.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/matthew/9-5.htm">Rise</a> <a href="/matthew/9-34.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/luke/5-8.htm">Sinner</a> <a href="/matthew/8-11.htm">Sun</a> <a href="/matthew/6-22.htm">True.</a> <a href="/luke/16-8.htm">Unjust</a> <a href="/matthew/12-37.htm">Unrighteous</a> <a href="/matthew/10-41.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/matthew/6-23.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/matthew/12-5.htm">Wrong</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 5</div>1. <a href="/matthew/5-1.htm">Jesus' sermon on the mount:</a> 3. <a href="/matthew/5-3.htm">The Beattitudes;</a> 13. <a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">the salt of the earth;</a> 14. <a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">the light of the world.</a> 17. <a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">He came to fulfill the law.</a> 21. <a href="/matthew/5-21.htm">What it is to kill;</a> 27. <a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">to commit adultery;</a> 33. <a href="/matthew/5-33.htm">to swear.</a> 38. <a href="/matthew/5-38.htm">He exhorts to forgive wrong,</a> 43. <a href="/matthew/5-43.htm">to love our enemies;</a> 48. <a href="/matthew/5-48.htm">and to labor after perfection.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/matthew/5.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>that you may be sons The phrase "that you may be sons" speaks to the transformative purpose of Jesus' teaching. In the Greek, the word for "sons" is "huioi," which implies not just biological offspring but those who reflect the character and nature of their father. In a spiritual sense, this means embodying the attributes of God, such as love, mercy, and grace. The call to be "sons" is an invitation to live in a way that mirrors the divine nature, emphasizing the relational aspect of being part of God's family.of your Father in heaven The term "Father" here is "Pater" in Greek, denoting a personal and intimate relationship with God. This is a radical concept, as it portrays God not as a distant deity but as a loving parent. The phrase "in heaven" underscores God's sovereignty and transcendence, reminding believers of His ultimate authority and the heavenly standard to which they are called. This relationship is foundational to Christian identity, encouraging believers to live in a manner worthy of their heavenly Father.He causes His sun to rise The imagery of the sun rising is a powerful metaphor for God's providence and impartiality. The Greek word "anatellei" means to cause to rise or to bring forth, indicating God's active role in creation. The sun, a source of life and energy, symbolizes God's sustaining power and His benevolent care for all creation. This phrase highlights God's grace, which is extended to all people, regardless of their moral standing.on the evil and the good This phrase illustrates the concept of common grace, where God extends His blessings to all humanity, irrespective of their righteousness. The Greek words "ponērous" (evil) and "agathous" (good) represent moral categories, yet God's grace transcends these distinctions. This challenges believers to emulate God's impartial love, showing kindness and compassion to all, just as God does.and sends rain Rain, in the agrarian society of biblical times, was essential for survival and prosperity. The Greek word "brechei" means to send rain, signifying God's provision and care. Rain is a symbol of blessing and sustenance, reinforcing the idea that God provides for the needs of all people. This act of sending rain is a demonstration of God's ongoing involvement in the world and His desire to nurture and sustain life.on the righteous and the unrighteous The terms "dikaious" (righteous) and "adikous" (unrighteous) further emphasize the indiscriminate nature of God's grace. This phrase challenges the notion of divine favoritism, illustrating that God's love and provision are not limited to those who are morally upright. It serves as a call to believers to reflect God's character by loving and serving others without prejudice, recognizing that all are recipients of God's grace.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(45) That ye may be.--Literally, and with far fuller meaning, that ye may become. We cannot become like God in power or wisdom. The attempt at that likeness to the Godhead was the cause of man's fall, and leads evermore to a like issue; but we cannot err in striving to be like Him in His love. (Comp. St. Paul's "followers [or, more literally, imitators"] of God" in <a href="/ephesians/5-1.htm" title="Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children;">Ephesians 5:1</a>.) And the love which we are to reproduce is not primarily that of which the children of the kingdom are the direct objects, showing itself in pardon, and adoption, and spiritual blessings, but the beneficence which is seen in Nature. Our Lord assumes that sunshine, and rain, and fruitful seasons are His Father's gifts, and proofs (whatever may be urged to the contrary) of His loving purpose. Here, again, the teaching of the higher Stoics presents an almost verbal parallel: "If thou wouldst imitate the gods, do good even to the unthankful, for the sun rises even on the wicked, and the seas are open to pirates" (Seneca, De Benefic. iv. 2, 6).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 45. - Parallel passage: <a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Luke 6:35</a>, which is more full, but hardly so original in form. That ye may be the children (ὅπως γένησθε υἱοί); sons (Revised Version); cf. ver. 9, note. The meaning of the clause is not certain. It may be: (1) Love to enemies is the means whereby you may become possessed of the full privileges involved in the nature of sons. These privileges are more than the mere participation in Messianic glory (Meyer), and are rather all the blessings present and future which belong to sonship. (2) Love, in order that on each occasion you may become in fact (almost our "show yourselves") sons of your Father, sons corresponding in ethical conduct to your position already received. Your Father. Not "the Father" (cf. ver. 16, note). Which is in heaven: for ὅτι The privileges generally, or the resemblance on each occasion, can only be obtained by behaviour similar to his, namely, kind treatment of those who injure you; for this is what he himself shows. He maketh his sun to rise (ἀνατέλλει). If we may lay stress on the Greek, our Lord expresses the popular notion of the sun ascending. It must, however, be remembered that the word he himself probably used was זרח in hiph. (, Peshito), which contains no thought of motion, but rather of appearance. Sun... rain. The two great sources of maintenance. On the evil and on the good... on the just and on the unjust. The first pair connotes, as it seems, the extreme of evil (<a href="/matthew/6-13.htm">Matthew 6:13</a>, note) and good, in each case manifesting itself according to its opportunities; the second, the life and character as tried by the standard, especially the human standard, of just dealing. Notice how, by chiasm, the emphasis is laid on the ungodly alike at the beginning and at the end. Our Lord here brings out God's active love as seen in nature, nourishing and maintaining men, irrespective of the qualities of individuals and of their treatment of him and his laws. The thought is found elsewhere, e.g. in Seneca (vide Meyer), "Si deos imitaris, da et ingratis benelicia; ham et sceleratis sol oritur, et piratis patent maria" (cf. Bishop Lightfoot, on 'Philippians' ["St. Paul and Seneca," p. 281], for a collection of parallels to the sermon on the mount). <a href="/commentaries/matthew/5-45.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>that ὅπως (hopōs) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3704.htm">Strong's 3704: </a> From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual). you may be γένησθε (genēsthe) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. sons υἱοὶ (huioi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5207.htm">Strong's 5207: </a> A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. of τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. Father Πατρὸς (Patros) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. heaven. οὐρανοῖς (ouranois) Noun - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel. He causes ἀνατέλλει (anatellei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_393.htm">Strong's 393: </a> To make to rise, I rise, shine (generally of the sun, and hence met.). From ana and the base of telos; to arise. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. sun {to rise} ἥλιον (hēlion) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2246.htm">Strong's 2246: </a> The sun, sunlight. From hele; the sun; by implication, light. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. [the] evil πονηροὺς (ponērous) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4190.htm">Strong's 4190: </a> Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. [the] good, ἀγαθοὺς (agathous) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_18.htm">Strong's 18: </a> A primary word; 'good'. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. sends rain βρέχει (brechei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1026.htm">Strong's 1026: </a> To moisten, rain, send rain. A primary verb; to moisten. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. [the] righteous δικαίους (dikaious) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1342.htm">Strong's 1342: </a> From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. [the] unrighteous. ἀδίκους (adikous) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_94.htm">Strong's 94: </a> Unjust, unrighteous, wicked. Specially, heathen. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/5-45.htm">Matthew 5:45 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/5-45.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 5:45 That you may be children of your (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/5-44.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 5:44"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 5:44" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/5-46.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 5:46"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 5:46" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>