Texts in Conversation
Proverbs 29 says that God gives light to the eyes of both the poor and the oppressor. Jesus similarly describes divine impartiality as sun and rain given to the evil and the good, to teach that his followers should love their enemies.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Proverbs 29:13
Hebrew Bible
11 A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back. 12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his ministers will be wicked. 13 The poor person and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives light to the eyes of them both. 14 If a king judges the poor in truth, his throne will be established forever. 15 A rod and reproof impart wisdom,but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.
Matthew 5:45
New Testament
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?
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Notes and References
"... Verse 45. “. . . so you may become sons of your father in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and causes it to rain on the righteous and unrighteous.” This sentiment was regarded as strange by some in antiquity, both Jew and Greek. For example, the Jew Josephus, Jewish War 5.407, says: “It is surely madness to expect God to show the same treatment to the just and the unjust” (compare Antiquities 4.180–83); the pagan source, Theognis 373ff, addresses the deity: “Dear Zeus, I wonder at Thee: Thou art the lord of all. . . . How then . . . dost thou think fit to deal the same measure to sinful and just alike, careless whether their hearts are turned to moderation or to insolence?” The sentiment has been affirmed by others, both Jewish and pagan. Note Jewish sources like Psalm 145:9—“The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made”; Proverbs 29:13—“The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both” ..."
Talbert, Charles H.
Reading the Sermon on the Mount: Character Formation and Decision Making in Matthew 5–7
(p. 95) Baker Academic, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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