New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 5:45

The Sermon on the Mount

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. Matthew 5:45 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Matthew 5:45, in plain English

Why love your enemies? Because that's what your Father in heaven does. He sends sun and rain to everyone, good and bad alike. Love like God loves: without conditions.

Why it's here

God doesn't withhold sunshine from bad people. His generosity is scandalous. If you want to be like Him, your love has to be scandalous too.

Who's speaking

Jesus explains the reason behind the command.

Where it sits in the story

When you love unconditionally, you look like God. That's the whole point of being His child.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The motivation for enemy-love is imitation of God (theou mimesis): God's common grace (sun and rain) extends to both evil (ponerous) and good (agathous), righteous (dikaious) and unrighteous (adikous). Being 'sons of your Father' means reflecting His indiscriminate generosity.

Language and setting

The concept of imitatio Dei (imitation of God) was known in Judaism, but Jesus applies it specifically to God's indiscriminate generosity toward all people, including the wicked.

Voice

Jesus, explaining why we should love enemies.

Significance

The ethical standard of the kingdom is not human fairness but divine generosity: treating others as God treats everyone.

In context

Matthew 5:43–47

43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’

44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45that 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.

46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

Read all of Matthew 5 — Jesus turns the world's values upside down. The blessed aren't the powerful — they're the poor in spirit, the grieving, the meek.

Understand every verse, not just this one

This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.

Get BibleKey

Understand every verse.

Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone & iPad