Gal 4:21-31

Continued Illustrations

Gal:4:21-26 “21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”

Addresses those who want to again be under the law.

Kind of calls them out in this form.

Hey those of you who are under the law, dont you actually listen.

Uses an illustration from the OT that they would understand, if they studied the law at all

As one that would want to be under the law would be

Gal 4:27 “27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.””

Quoting Isaiah connecting the barren one to Sarah who was barren

Comparing Sarah and Hagar

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians E. Argument from the Allegory of Isaac and Ishmael (vv. 21–31)

This quote from Isaiah 54:1 contrasts the future lineages of the two women. Sarah (grace) was initially barren, but she ended up with innumerable spiritual children because of the Abrahamic Covenant. She eventually surpassed the younger Hagar. The intended comparison was between the growth of Christianity (grace) and the stagnation of Judaism (law) in the first century. Paul is challenging the Galatians to choose Christ (grace) and be a part of what God was doing in their day.

Gal 4:28-31 “28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.”

Brings the idea of free vs slave

He uses this as the full illustration.

This is bringing the fullness to the idea of the free and slave

Also brings the idea that the slave born to the flesh will persecute the one born to the spirit

We must hold to the Spirit and turn away the slave and those born to it.

We are born as children of the free, in Christ