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Mat_5:45. Ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ , κ . τ . λ .] is commonly understood, in keeping with the ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον , κ . τ . λ ., that follows, of the ethical condition of similarity to God, according to which the child of God also exhibits in himself the divine disposition and the divine conduct (Eph_5:1 f.). But the correct interpretation is given by Mat_5:9, and is supported by γένησθε (for γίνεσθαι is never equivalent to εἶναι ). What is meant is, as in Mat_5:9, the obtaining of the coming salvation in the kingdom of the Messiah, which, according to the connection, as in Mat_5:9, is designated as the future sonship of God, because the participators in the Messianic blessedness must necessarily be of the same moral nature with God as the original type of love; therefore the words that follow, and Mat_5:48.
τοῦ ἐν οὐραν .] See on Mat_6:9. As to the thought, comp. Seneca, de benef. Mat_4:25 : “Si deos imitaris, da et ingratis beneficia; nam et sceleratis sol oritur, et piratis patent maria.”
ὅτι ] is not equivalent to ὅς , but the simple as (for), stating that ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ , κ . τ . λ ., is rightly said. Fritzsche here inappropriately (comp. already Bengel) drags in the usage of εἰς ἐκεῖνο ὅτι (see on Joh_2:18; Joh_9:17, etc).
ἀνατέλλει ] transitive, Hom. Il. v. 777; Pind. Isthm. vi. 5, v. 111; Soph. Phil. 1123; Diod. Sic. xvii. 7; LXX. Gen_3:18; Sir_37:17; Clem. Cor. I. 20.
τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ] “Magnifica appellatio; ipse et fecit solem et gubernat et habet in sua unius potestate” (Bengel). The goodness of God towards His enemies (sinners) Jesus makes His believers feel by the experimental proof of His all good administration in nature—a proof which, like every one derived a posteriori in favour of a single divine attribute, is, on account of opposing experiences (God also destroys the good and the evil through natural manifestations), in itself insufficient, but, in popular instruction, has its proper place, and is of assured efficacy, with the same right as the special consideration of individual divine attributes in general.