Thomas Aquinas

Having set forth the exhortation to kindness and mercy, which are effects of charity, here he shows them an example. Concerning this he does two things. First he leads them to the imitation of the exemplar, namely God; second he shows in what they ought to imitate him, at the place "and walk," etc.

He says therefore: I have said that you ought to forgive one another, just as God also in Christ has forgiven you; therefore be imitators of God, because this is necessary, although it is difficult. Ecclesiastes 2:12: "What is man, I ask, that he should be able to follow the king his maker?" Yet human nature will never be perfected, except in union with God. Hence Job 23:11: "My foot has followed his steps." Therefore he is to be imitated, in such a way as we have the possibility, because it belongs to a son to imitate his father. And therefore he adds "as children," namely of the father through creation. Deuteronomy 32:6: "Is not he your father, who has possessed, and made, and created you?" And he adds "most dear," namely whom he has chosen for participation in himself.

There follows "and walk," etc. Where first he sets down the manner of imitating, namely in charity; second he shows the sign of his immense charity, at the place "and delivered," etc.

That we are therefore most dear children, this the charity of God brings about. Romans 8:15: "For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption of children, whereby we cry: Abba, Father. For the Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit, that we are the children of God." We ought therefore to imitate him in love.

And he says "walk," that is, always make progress. Genesis 15: "walk before me, and be perfect." And this "in love," because love is such a good in which man ought to make progress, and such a debt which man ought always to pay. Romans 13:8: "Owe no man anything, but to love one another." Or "in love," which is the way of following God more closely. 1 Corinthians 12:31: "I show unto you yet a more excellent way." 1 Corinthians 13:1: "If I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels," etc. Colossians 3:4: "above all these things having charity," etc.

And this by the example of Christ. Hence he adds "as Christ also has loved us." John 13:1: "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end." And because, according to Gregory, the proof of love is the showing forth of the deed, therefore he adds "and delivered himself for us." Apocalypse 1:5: "He has loved us, and washed us from our sins." Galatians 2:20: "I live in the faith of the Son of God, who has loved me, and delivered himself unto death for me." Isaiah 53:12: "he has delivered his soul unto death," etc.

Now this death was useful and necessary for us, therefore he adds "an oblation and a sacrifice," etc. Now here the Apostle speaks according to the manner of the old law, in which, as is said in Leviticus 4:25ff., when someone had sinned, there had to be offered for him a sacrifice and an oblation, which is called "for sin." Likewise, when someone gave thanks to God, or wished to obtain something, a peace-offering had to be offered, as is said in Leviticus 3:9, which indeed was an oblation of most sweet odor to the Lord, as is said in the same place.

But these things were accomplished through Christ, because, that we might be cleansed from sins and obtain glory, he delivered himself for us as an oblation through the things which he did in his life. Isaiah 53:7: "he was offered because it was his own will," etc. And "a sacrifice to God for sin." And this "for an odor of sweetness." Now he alludes here to what is said in Leviticus 3:5f. But surely that odor was not then acceptable to God in itself, but according to its signification, inasmuch as it signified the fragrant oblation of the body of Christ the Son of God. Genesis 2: "behold the odor of my son, as the odor of a full field." Canticle 1:3: "draw me after you, we will run to the odor of your ointments."

In this way, then, we ought to sacrifice ourselves to God spiritually. Psalm 50:19: "a sacrifice to God is a spirit," etc.