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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just saying God is generally good; it’s highlighting that His goodness, seen in the sun and rain, is unconditional and indiscriminate. This isn't merely a nice fact about God, but the very standard Jesus is calling us to, showing that true "sonship" is proven by our generosity, even towards those who don't deserve it or actively oppose us.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching about a radical new way of living, one that goes far beyond the demands of the Old Testament Law as it had been twisted by religious leaders. He's just declared that the true spirit of the law isn't just to love your neighbor, but to actively love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This verse explains why they should do this: because their heavenly Father does the same, showering His goodness on everyone, regardless of their character.
Ever notice how the sun shines and rain falls on everyone, regardless of who they are? Jesus points this out as a profound model for us.
Jesus is calling us to a radical kind of love – one that mirrors God's own.
A Universal Kindness
Think about the sun rising and the rain falling. These aren't reserved for the 'good' people. God's generosity extends to everyone, the 'just' and the 'unjust' alike. This isn't about God approving of sin, but about His consistent, life-sustaining goodness that flows to all of humanity.
Imitating the Father
Jesus uses this incredible natural phenomenon to teach a powerful lesson: we are to become like our Heavenly Father. This doesn't mean we become God, but that we reflect His character in our actions. Just as God's blessings are poured out universally, our love and kindness should extend beyond our circle of friends to those who may have wronged us.
Jesus says we 'may be' sons of our Father. What does this 'becoming' truly mean in our relationship with God?
The phrase 'that you may be' (or 'become') is crucial here. It's not just about our status as children of God, but about our character and actions reflecting that identity.
Living Out Our Identity
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While our adoption into God's family is a gift of grace, Jesus emphasizes that true sonship is demonstrated through our conduct. Loving enemies isn't a mere suggestion; it's the pathway to embodying the very nature of God and revealing our spiritual transformation.
A Mark of True Discipleship
Jesus contrasts this divine, selfless love with the limited love of the world (like tax collectors who only love those who love them back). By extending love universally, we actively 'become' more like our Father, showing the world the transformative power of His love at work in us.
Understand the original words
huios · Greek Noun
Offspring who bear the likeness and carry the authority of their father. Spiritually, it refers to those who are adopted by God and reflect His character through their conduct.
patēr · Greek Noun
The source of life and the head of the family. As applied to God, it emphasizes His role as Creator, Sustainer, and the compassionate provider for His children.
ouranos · Greek Noun
The dwelling place of God and the seat of His cosmic authority. It represents the realm of perfect holiness and the ultimate destination of the redeemed.
ponēros · Greek Adjective
Morally bad, corrupt, or harmful. It refers to thoughts and actions that are contrary to God’s nature and destructive to His creation.
agathos · Greek Adjective
Intrinsically excellent, beneficial, and morally right. It reflects the nature of God, who is the source of all goodness and whose works are perfect.
dikaios · Greek Adjective
Righteous or upright in conduct and character. It describes those who live in accordance with God’s law and are declared righteous through faith.
adikos · Greek Adjective
Unrighteous or wicked, characterized by a lack of integrity or failure to adhere to God's standards. It describes those whose lives are marked by sin and disobedience.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' teaching on loving enemies, explicitly stating to 'do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return,' and that 'your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.'
Romans 12:14Paul urges believers to 'bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse,' directly applying the principle of showing kindness even to those who oppose us, a reflection of God's indiscriminate goodness.
1 John 4:7This verse highlights that 'everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God,' emphasizing that divine love, characterized by selflessness and extending beyond familial or friendly circles, is a hallmark of true sonship.
Genesis 1:26The creation account establishes humanity in God's image, implying a call to reflect His character. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:45 expounds on this by calling believers to mirror God's generosity in nature by extending kindness to all.
Deuteronomy 32:39While this passage speaks of God's power to kill and make alive, the broader context of God's faithfulness and justice, even towards a rebellious people, mirrors the indiscriminate care shown in Matthew 5:45, where God's provisions are not withheld from the wicked.
calvinMatthew 5:43-48: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy."
- Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love they neighbor, and thou shalt hate thy enemy. 44. But I say to you, Love your enemies: bless those who curse you: do good to those that hate you: and pray for those who injure and persecute you: 45. That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth ra…
barnesMatthew 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 ye may be the children of your Father - In Greek, the sons of your Father. The word "son" has a variety of significations. See the notes at Matthew 1:1 . Christians are called the "sons" or "children" of God in several of these senses: as his offspring; as adopted; as his disciples; as imitators of Him. In…
The verse isn't just saying God is generally good; it’s highlighting that His goodness, seen in the sun and rain, is unconditional and indiscriminate. This isn't merely a nice fact about God, but the very standard Jesus is calling us to, showing that true "sonship" is proven by our generosity, even towards those who don't deserve it or actively oppose us.
Jesus is teaching about a radical new way of living, one that goes far beyond the demands of the Old Testament Law as it had been twisted by religious leaders. He's just declared that the true spirit of the law isn't just to love your neighbor, but to actively love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This verse explains why they should do this: because their heavenly Father does the same, showering His goodness on everyone, regardless of their character.
Jesus is teaching about a radical new way of living, one that goes far beyond the demands of the Old Testament Law as it had been twisted by religious leaders. He's just declared that the true spirit of the law isn't just to love your neighbor, but to actively love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. This verse explains why they should do this: because their heavenly Father does the same, showering His goodness on everyone, regardless of their character.
"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." — The verse isn't just saying God is generally good; it’s highlighting that His goodness, seen in the sun and rain, is unconditional and indiscriminate. This isn't merely a nice fact about God, but…
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Last reviewed October 2026