Matthew 5:45 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 5:45

Comments

Our behaviour towards our enemies is to be modelled on our heavenly Father’s behaviour towards his enemies. His character is the definition of all right conduct, the law’s given to men originate in his conduct. In imitating him we show what we are, and do justice to the name of the children of God, for every child should reflect his father. Christ is not talking about how we become the sons of God in the first place; no act of ours can make us God’s sons; God himself must adopt us in the first place by giving us his Spirit, and the Scripture consistently teaches that this blessing comes through repentance and faith not through our good works. Christ says, ‘your Father’ because God is already the Father of all those who are in the kingdom. Those who live in this way show that they are true children of God, and this test of family membership is very reliable. Only those who have the Spirit of adoption can imitate the Father in such exacting circumstances. How then does God behave towards his enemies? This ought to be obvious from the order of this world. Christ takes for granted that this world is a mixture of those who love God and those who continue to rebel against his just rule over them. As yet the wheat has not been separated from the chaff; as yet the wicked have not been judged. Does God lack power to subdue them and to punish them, to remove them from his world if he so chooses? No, but he allows the world to continue for a while in its current state. Is he indifferent to the lives of those who disobey him continually; does he not notice their behaviour? The Day of Judgment will show that he noted every sin and forgot nothing. Consequently we have opportunity to see how he treats those who are undeniably his enemies, who hate him and receive all his gifts without thanks. It is this that is to be the model of our treatment of our enemies, and not his final action towards them when he consigns them to hell. Those who live in unrighteousness make themselves the enemies of God and deserve the full force of his judgment immediately. This is a terrible position to be in, a dangerous position to be in, and one which could turn at any moment into eternal destruction. God has warned them once not to disobey them, and having exercised patience towards them does not publish when his patience will be exhausted. Nevertheless while the world goes on, both good and evil alike continue to receive the benefits of God’s common grace. God then show kindness even to his enemies. The murderer and the adulterer enjoy the same benefits as the righteous: both see the sun rise in all its glory and feel its warmth in a way that cheers their hearts. These observations of the Lord are so profound, yet so undeniable. They teach us how to reason about the world, starting with a Biblical worldview. Man is full of sin; God is not indifferent to sin, and yet the world continues and good and evil both receive a benefit. This can only be explained by God’s love for his enemies. It is true that the consciences of the wicked often cannot allow them to appreciate this in the same way and mixed with these benefits they have a sense of foreboding that the God, who gives them all this, is biding his time; that his common grace is no indication that they are the objects of his favour. Yet for a time they receive a benefit for which they ought to be grateful.Why does God treat the wicked in this way? Because it his will that the world should continue and the day of grace be held open long enough for the elect to be called out. They too start off among the ungrateful but the Spirit moves them to see their ingratitude and to repent of it. For the rest, it is an indication that they are without excuse when they can receive so many good things, and not respond. They have ample evidence that God, who does not immediately judge them, is willing to receive them if they sincerely turn to him. Paul affirms the same thing, saying to the people of Lystra, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness’ (Acts 14:15-17).

Application

This is not a time of judgement, a time for settling of scores. Justice is ninety percent reserved for the last day. If God operates on this basis, so should we. Justice is later, therefore view every offender as a possible Christian convert and absorb the wrong done to you. Only those who believe in a future reward, who believe in the future punishment of the wicked, who believe in God’s delayed justice, are capable of forfeiting opportunities for revenge in this life with equanimity.

Are we witnesses of some horrific event in the history of the world, and do we feel that the world should not continue as if nothing has happened? And yet the sun rises on the following day, and spreads its glorious light across the hills? It seems indifferent to what has taken place. But the Christian believes God’s word, and knows that the explanation for this is that God’s patience exceeds man’s ability to understand; he has forgotten nothing as the judgment of the long-since dead will soon show. Judgement is in the future. Of course, there are tokens of judgement now, we know. But judgement proper is in the future, at the end of time. Now is the age of grace. So we do not go about saying, ‘That person did this to me and that to me. He ought to have some punishment now. I must cut him off. I will never pray for him. I will never witness to him. He is hopeless, beyond the pale.’

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Matthew 5:45 Commentary and Bible Study