Matthew 5:43-48 and God's Love for His Enemies (Part 4)

v. 45b, He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

When we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, it demonstrates that we are children of our heavenly Father. And how does love for enemies demonstrate the we are God's children? Jesus answers this question through a direct assertion concering the activity of the Almighty.

As noted before:

God sends rain even on the unrighteous ("rain" is considered a blessing, rather than a nuisance, in an agricultural society, where rainwater helps the crops to grow): God grants His enemies air, water, and food. God gives innumerable such blessings to all his enemies, when all that they deserve from Him is wrath. And to all of His enemies who trust in Jesus alone for salvation, God grants eternal life.

The quote from Jesus at the beginning of this post should not be taken in isolation. This quote comes in the first half of a book [i.e., the Gospel According to Matthew] that ends with Jesus giving His life as a ransom for many (cf. Matt 20:28). And this is the supreme way in which God has demonstrated love for His enemies: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).