Sons are those who partake of the Father’s character. In context, Jesus uses the phrase to refer to the behaviour of kingdom citizens. To return evil for good is devilish, to return good for good is human, but to return good for evil is divine. 1 When kingdom citizens respond to evil with good, they thereby show themselves to be children of God. 2
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.