“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:45)
Expanded Passage: Matthew 5:45-46
She faced him, utterly frozen. The man in front of her had worked in the concentration camp where Corrie ten Boom and family had been imprisoned and where her sister had died. Now, having found forgiveness from God and become a Christian, he asked if she also would forgive him! She wrestled deep within her heart, until finally she called upon Jesus for help and cried out to the man, “I forgive you, brother, with all my heart!” She chose to love her enemy and forgive for same reason that Jesus taught in this sermon.
What is that reason? Quite simply, it is God’s own gracious, nondiscriminating love and care for human beings. Humans have no control over sun and rain, essential elements for life and food. To receive life through these is always a gracious gift from the Father. There will indeed be a day when God separates the godly from the ungodly, but that task has been granted to Jesus alone for a future time. Until then, we must trust the perfect Judge to do right. As good children, we must imitate our Father in showing love and grace without distinction.
This principle leads Jesus to say later, “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matt. 6:15). In kingdom economics, love and forgiveness do not discriminate. All receive them equally. Corrie ten Boom knew this, and she accepted it in humble obedience. Will we?
Choose love, regardless of the recipient’s “righteousness,” because God did so first.
Noah Cromer is, first, God’s child; second, a husband and father. He gladly serves at Southern Wesleyan University in residence life and as an adjunct professor.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
