<P> Barclay notes that Hebrew had relatively few adjectives, and referring to a person as "son of something" is a way of creating an adjective . Thus "son of peace" is a term for someone who is peaceful, and "son of God" can simply be a term of godly . Jesus is saying that to be godlike, and thus to be good, one must treat people as God does . </P> <P> This is one of the few New Testament verses that depicts God as commander of nature . Schweizer notes that in Palestine rain was extremely important and beneficial, the hot sun, was less so . He notes that in Greece at this time the burning power of the sun was often a symbol of godly power while the rain was a symbol of godly benevolence . By contrast in wetter and more northern societies, rain is often viewed as unpleasant . Most scholars feel that in this verse both rain and sun are meant to be positive . The prominent Rabbi Joshua ben Nehemiah had made similar note of rain's equal treatment of the good and the wicked, and saw it as a sign of God's benevolence . Greek philosopher Seneca, writing in the same era as Jesus lived, also has a very similar discussion of how nature aids both the good and the ill . </P> <P> France notes that this verse only addresses practical kindness . On a spiritual level the Bible portrays God as being far less even handed, with the good being granted salvation and the wicked punishment . </P>

He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good