The Free Woman

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Galatians 4:21–31 NASB95

Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband.” And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.

Sarah and Hagar

Sarah

wife of Abraham

bore the child of promise (Isaac)

Hagar

servant of Sarah

bore the child in bondage (Ishmael)

The 2 Covenants

Hagar stands for the covenant that came from Mount Sinai

Galatians 4:24–25 NASB95

This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

Galatians 4.25

The Law was given at Mount Sinai

The Law enslaved Israel to physical rules and regulations

Sarah stands for Jerusalem above, representing the Grace covenant brought by the Lord

Galatians 4:26 NASB95

But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

Galatians 4.26

Grace covenant came from heaven

John 1:17 NASB95

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

John 1.

Hebrews 12.22

1 Corinthians 15.48

Hebrews 12:22–24 NASB95

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Jerusalem above (the New Jerusalem) is “free”; she is not subject to the laws of the flesh.

The Bondwoman

How do we see the representation of Hagar in today’s women?

In birthing children

Children are supposed to be born by the will of God

Cain was not born by the will of God

The bondwoman give birth to children by uncontrolled appetites of the flesh

John 1:12–13 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

In keeping teaching the children

Children are trained in the home and then let go at the right time

But the bondwoman does not know how, and when to stop her taking over of her child’s life

In Emotional enslavement of children

Galatians 4:1–2 NASB95

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

In Emotional enslavement of children

Maturing children should learn to weigh things on their own, and their decisions respected

But the bondwoman enslaves her child by leveraging on their feelings

She makes her child accomplish her unfulfilled dreams

She uses her child to fulfill her own ambitions

Mark 6.17-25

Mark 6:17–29 NASB95

For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him. A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.

The Free Woman

She gives birth to children whom she loves

She trains her children and sets them free

She does not insist her choices and emotions on her children

The Free Woman is praised in her house

Proverbs 31:27–31 NASB95

She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31.27-