Common Grace Deliberations: Matthew 5:44-45—“for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust”

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

[Matt. 5:44-45]

COMMON GRACE ARGUMENT:

Rain and sunshine are interpreted, by defenders of common grace, to be divine blessings and tokens of love and favour towards all men, including the reprobate.

WELL-MEANT OFFER ARGUMENT:

Matthew 5 is also used to promote the well-meant offer (a desire of God to save all men), in that the good gifts of providence are tokens of a love that desires the salvation of all men, and not just a common-grace type of love

The following articles are various Reformed voices on this text of Scripture:

Rev. Angus Stewart on Matthew 5:44-45

Rev. Martyn McGeown on Matthew 5:44-45

Prof. David J. Engelsma on Matthew 5:44-45

Prof. Herman C. Hanko on Matthew 5:44-45

Rev. Christopher J. Connors on Matthew 5:44-45

Dr. Gary North on Matthew 5:44-45

Dr. C. Matthew McMahon on Matthew 5:44-45 [New!!—26/11/2020]

Rev. Kenneth Koole on Matthew 5:44-45 [New!!—16/07/2020]

Herman Veldman (1908-1997) on Matthew 5:44-45 [New!!—10/11/2020]

Homer C. Hoeksema (1923-1989) on Matthew 5:44-45

Herman Hoeksema (1886-1965) on Matthew 5:44-45