Matthew 5:45 (GNV)

Passage

That ye may be the children of your father that is in heauen: for he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill, and the good, and sendeth raine on the iust, and vniust.

Nearby Context

Matthew 5:43 Ye haue heard that it hath bin said, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour, and hate your enemie.

Matthew 5:44 But I say vnto you, Loue your enemies: blesse them that curse you: doe good to them that hate you, and pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you,

Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your father that is in heauen: for he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill, and the good, and sendeth raine on the iust, and vniust.

Matthew 5:46 For if ye loue them, which loue you, what rewarde shall you haue? Doe not the Publicanes euen the same?

Matthew 5:47 And if ye be friendly to your brethren onely, what singular thing doe ye? doe not euen the Publicanes likewise?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "children", "father", "heauen", "maketh", "sunne", "arise", "euill", and "good". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "children" and "father", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 44's "But I say vnto you Loue your..." into verse 46's "For if ye loue them which loue...", so "children" and "father" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "children" and "father" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.