γίνεσθε οὖν μιμηταὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὡς τέκνα�. The thought of the Divine Example is repeated and enforced by reference to the thought of the Fatherhood of God (bringing the passage into yet closer relation with Matthew 5:48), and to the love which on His side expresses the heart of the relationship, cf. on Ephesians 1:6. This brings the exhortation to fulfil the Christian ideal to its natural climax in the command ‘to walk in love.’ The note has been often struck since its first occurrence in Ephesians 1:4. Here it finds its supreme manifestation in the self-surrender of Christ on our behalf.

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Old Testament