slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”j All of these verses characterize God as “merciful” (οἰκτίρμων in the LXX as in Lk 6:36). A Christological reading of the beatitudes makes way for a Christological reading of these imperatives. The imperative “become” (γίνεσθε) describes a state of being the believers now possess in Christ. They have become like Christ, who is like the Father. The mercy the Father shows toward his perfect Son he also shows toward his forgiven sons and daughters.