The phrase “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” comes from Matthew 5:45 in the Bible, where Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” This profound yet simple statement conveys an important spiritual truth that God bestows common grace and blessings on all people, regardless of their moral character or spiritual standing before Him.
On the surface, it is easy to think the rain is just part of the natural physical world, falling according to impersonal meteorological forces. However, the Bible teaches rain is providentially governed by God to accomplish His purposes. Rain is a blessing which enables crops to grow and sustain life. As Jesus teaches, God grants the blessing of rain to all people, both the righteous and unrighteous. Rain manifests God’s common grace – His undeserved favor and benefits He grants to all humanity, not just those who love and serve Him.
Therefore, “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” means God allows His world to freely function for the benefit of all. His sun shines and rain falls as blessings to both kinds of people. This reflects God’s generosity and kindness even to those who do not acknowledge Him. This also displays God’s patience toward evildoers, as He does not immediately punish their sin but mercifully grants them time and opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
However, this does not mean the just and unjust receive God’s blessings in the exact same measure or that they will experience identical eternal destinies. Scripture is clear that those who trust and obey Christ will receive eternal life, while those who reject Him face condemnation (John 3:18). God’s temporal blessings in this world do not negate the importance of securing eternal salvation through faith in Jesus.
Neither does this mean God approves of evil or injustice. Scripture repeatedly affirms God hates sin and will ultimately eradicate all unrighteousness from creation. But in His patience during this temporal age, He allows the blessings of sun and rain to come on all so that hearts may turn to repentance and faith.
So what are some key lessons Christians can learn from “the rain falls on the just and the unjust”? Here are a few:
- God is generous, merciful and patient even with those who do not deserve it.
- God’s blessings are intended to lead people to repentance and gratitude (Romans 2:4).
- Christians should emulate God’s generosity by doing good and loving even our enemies (Luke 6:35).
- We must not judge others’ spiritual state based on their temporal blessings.
- God will rectify all injustice in the final judgment, so we can trust His justice even when evil prospers temporarily.
- We must make sure we have secured eternal life in Christ rather than presume upon God’s temporal blessings.
In summary, the maxim “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” contains profound theology about God’s common grace, the purpose of His blessings, and the need for faith in Christ for salvation. God graciously allows His world to function for the benefit of all. While God permits the unjust to experience sun and rain like the righteous in this age, He calls all to repentance and warns of ultimate judgment for those outside Christ. This vital spiritual truth should shape Christian gratitude, generosity, patience and urgency to share the Gospel while time remains.
The teaching that God sends rain on the just and unjust alike appears in several other places in Scripture as well. A couple other examples include:
Acts 14:15-17 – “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
The Apostle Paul here preaches to pagan Gentiles who did not know God. He appeals to God’s past blessings of rain and harvests as evidence of His mercy and generosity, given even when they were in sin and ignorance of the true God. These blessings were intended to lead them to repentance and gratitude.
Job 5:10 – “[God] gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields.”
In the book of Job, as Job grapples with the injustice and suffering he is enduring, his friend Eliphaz appeals to God’s generosity in giving rain as an argument for God’s justice. Even amid his own extreme circumstances, Job confesses God as the giver of rain in Job 36:27-28 – “For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.”
These verses help demonstrate that rain has always been recognized as a gracious gift from God to sustain human life. Even in the Old Testament, there are hints pointing toward God allowing His rain to fall on both types of people, foreshadowing Jesus’ explicit teaching that God “sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
This raises an important question: If God is generous even to those who rebel against Him, why should anyone repent and submit to Him? Several biblical truths answer this.
First, Scripture repeatedly warns that God’s patience is not unlimited (Genesis 6:3; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9). God has fixed an appointed Day of Judgment when He will punish unrepentant sin. The blessings unjust people enjoy today do not mean they will escape future judgment. In fact, if the undeserved blessings do not lead them to repentance, they will only increase their accountability before God (Luke 12:47-48). So the rain should move people to gratitude and repentance before the window of opportunity closes.
Second, the Bible clearly teaches the unjust do not receive God’s blessings in the same full measure or with the same benefits as the righteous. God promises to lavishly bless and prospert hose who serve Him (Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 1:1-3; 84:11). So even if unbelievers experience sun and rain because of God’s common grace, they only experience a tiny fraction of the abundant blessings poured out on those who walk with God.
Third, the supreme blessing is eternal life, which only comes through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Experiencing God’s temporal blessings now is no substitute for securing eternal life. Jesus asked what it profits someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul (Mark 8:36). Without salvation through Christ, one remains under God’s condemnation (John 3:18, 36). The rain cannot wash away the stain of sin – only the blood of Jesus can do that (1 John 1:7).
Lastly, Scripture gives us a glimpse of the future when God’s mercy to the unjust will come to an end. After rampant rebellion shakes the earth, Revelation 16:4-7 says: “The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”
The drying up of water sources speaks of the withdrawal of God’s mercy and blessings. The angel even declares it a just judgment for the way the ungodly shed righteous blood. So this provides a sobering picture of the future when God’s patience will cease and final justice will arrive. The merciful rain we see falling today will not continue indefinitely.
In conclusion, Jesus’ maxim “the rain falls on the just and the unjust” provides a profound insight into God’s generous common grace. But this should not lead anyone to presume upon God’s kindness or neglect the urgent need for repentance and faith in Christ while time remains. The temporary bounty people enjoy now must point them to their Creator and the eternal destiny He offers, before the window of opportunity closes forever.
Beyond explaining the meaning of the phrase, it is also helpful to reflect on some principles Christians should derive from this teaching of Jesus:
- We should be thankful for all of God’s blessings, even those we do not deserve. Every raindrop and ray of sunlight is an undeserved gift, since we have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). This should lead to humble gratitude, not prideful entitlement.
- We must not judge others as beyond the reach of God’s grace. If God allows His sun and rain on the worst of sinners, who are we to withhold love or act superior? We should graciously share the Gospel with even “unlikely” people.
- We should be generous and do good even to those who wrong us, emulating God’s kindness (Luke 6:35). Bickering over whether someone deserves our help misses the point.
- God’s blessings should lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). We cannot enjoy God’s benefits while ignoring His Word. His goodness is meant to draw our hearts to Him.
- We must use the time God gives us wisely for salvation and Kingdom purposes. The window of opportunity will not remain open forever.
- Our eternal destiny hinges on repenting and trusting Christ, not just benefiting temporarily from common grace.
- Believers can have complete confidence in God’s justice, even when the wicked prosper in this life. Justice will ultimately prevail.
- Christians can freely enjoy God’s creation and temporal blessings, but our hope is set fully on eternal redemption (2 Peter 3:13).
In summary, while God graciously allows His blessings on both kinds of people now, Jesus’ teaching has profound underlying implications. As we receive God’s undeserved gifts, it should build gratitude, generosity, urgency and hope within us. And this truth assures us of God’s justice. Even when evil seems to prevail, God’s purposes will be accomplished. The rain continues to fall, but the Day of Judgment is coming when God’s patience will end. This biblical maxim offers deep encouragement and wisdom for how Christians should live in light of God’s present grace and coming justice.
Some common mistakes people make when reflecting on this passage include:
- Presuming upon God’s grace and ignoring the urgency of repentance and faith.
- Thinking they deserve God’s blessings because of their own righteousness.
- Judging the unjust as beyond God’s mercy and grace.
- Assuming their own eternal destiny is secured because of temporal blessings.
- Becoming embittered that evil people seem to prosper.
- Failing to trust God’s justice and timing when the wicked flourish.
- Not generously sharing God’s blessings with others.
- Wasting the opportunity God’s patience provides.
In contrast, a wise and biblical application of this teaching will lead Christians to:
- Have hearts filled with gratitude and humility for undeserved grace.
- Pursue repentance and salvation in Christ with urgency.
- Extend gracious love to even the most undeserving.
- Trust God’s justice even when evil temporarily flourishes.
- Generously share God’s blessings with others.
- Fulfill the purposes of God’s Kingdom while time remains.
- Find contentment in God rather than temporal prosperity.
- Allow God’s gracious blessings to lead us closer to Him.
In conclusion, this simple but profound maxim invites us to encounter the God of all grace. As we reflect on its meaning, may our hearts be drawn to our generous, merciful, and just Heavenly Father!