Scripture Spot Logo

Verse of the Day

WEB

Author Spotlight

Loading featured author...

Report Issue

See a formatting issue or error?

Let us know →

that you may be sons 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.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Divine Family Resemblance

Commentators unanimously agree that being “sons of your Father” means showing a family resemblance to God. Just as God gives common blessings like sun and rain to everyone, regardless of their righteousness, His children are called to show indiscriminate love, even to their enemies. Scholars clarify this action doesn't earn our sonship, but rather proves it, demonstrating the inner change that comes from being adopted into God's family.

See 3 Verse Takeaways

Book Overview

Matthew

Author

Audience

Composition

Teaching Highlights

Outline

+ 5 more

See Overview

Commentaries

11

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Matthew 5:45

18th Century

Theologian

That you may be the children of your Father. In Greek, the sons of your Father. The word son has a variety of meanings (see Barne…

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon

On Matthew 5:44–45

19th Century

Preacher

It is our part to persist in loving, even if people persist in enmity. We are to offer blessing for cursing, prayers for persecutions. Even in the …

Expositor's Bible Commentary

Expositor's Bible Commentary

On Matthew 5:45

Jesus allowed no casuistry. The real direction indicated by the law is love, rich and costly, and extended even to enemies. Many take the verb and …

Premium

Go Ad-Free

Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library

John Calvin

John Calvin

On Matthew 5:45

16th Century

Theologian

That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven. When He expressly declares that no one will be a child of God unless he

John Gill

John Gill

On Matthew 5:45

17th Century

Pastor

That you may be the children of your father

Not that any became the children of God, by doing things in imitation …

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Matthew 5:43–48

17th Century

Minister

The Jewish teachers understood ���neighbor��� to mean only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they regarded as their f…

Subscriber

Join Our Newsletter

Get curated content & updates

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas

On Matthew 5:43–48

13th Century

Philosopher

You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor. Above, the Lord fulfilled the Law concerning permissi…