The Lord is like a father to his children. This idea is central to the teachings of Jesus about God's fatherhood (see Matthew 5:43–48; 6:1; 10:19–20; 12:50; Luke 6:36; 12:29–32; John 8:31–59; 15:1–8; see also 2 Samuel 7:14; Jeremiah 3:19; 31:9; Malachi 1:6; 2 Corinthians 6:16–18).