Bible Study Galatians 4: 21-31

 

Bible Study Galatians 4: 21-31

Text:

An Allegory of Two Covenants

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 [a]This is [b]spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai bearing children into slavery; [c]she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; [d]she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

“Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate one
Than of the one who has a husband.”

28 And you brothers, in accordance with Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?

“Cast out the servant-woman and her son,
For the son of the servant-woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, [e]but of the free woman.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 21: “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law?”

Again, Paul emphasizes the difference between being a free child of God and being a slave to the law, sin, flesh, and false gods. Abraham’s firstborn son Ishmael represents the slave sons of Abraham and thus the enslaving Sinai covenant. Isaac represents the free sons of Abraham. Paul asks a direct question. Why would anyone want to earn salvation through works when you can be born again by grace through faith?

Verse 22: “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman and one by the free woman.”

The older son named Ishmael was born to Hagar; the younger son Isaac to Sarah. Hagar was Sarah’s slave.

Verse 23: “But the son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman through the promise.”

Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, was born after Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s promise of having their own child. They took matters into their own hands. The result was not good. Ishmael was the father of what today is the Islamic faith. Isaac was born to Sarah by a miracle long after her child-bearing years had ended. God showed that none of His promises are empty. A promise delayed is not a promise forgotten. 

Verse 24: “This is spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai bearing children into slavery; she is Hagar.”

An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. “Spoken with allegory means that these events in Abraham’s life contain an allegory. Paul is going to draw a lesson from it. Paul references two covenants: the first is the covenant of the Law which Moses received from God on Mount Sinai. Paul compares Hagar to Mount Sinai which is synonymous with the Mosaic Law.

Verse 25: “Paul compares Hagar to Mount Sinai which is synonymous with the Mosaic Law.”

God established His covenant with Israel when He gave Moses the Law at Mount  Sinai.In both Paul’s day and our own, most Jews remain, like all unbelievers, in slavery to sin and under the curse that the covenant of Sinai pronounces upon all who disobey its conditions. Over the years I have seen time and again church members trying their best to create some “do’s and don'ts” that they perform to prove that they are saved. I use the term “unsaved religionists” consistently to describe people that think they are saved but they are not. They are the group that says, “Lord, Lord,” and He says back, “I never knew you.” When someone has been under Holy Spirit conviction and they know the truth, they draw close to Christ, not their works.

Verse 26: “But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.”

Jerusalem was the city where God had placed His name, the place of His dwelling in the midst of His people. Today, the reality of God’s dwelling with us was accomplished in Christ, the true temple. The true Jerusalem is in heaven where He is. Only Jerusalem has this protection in God’s Holy Word: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psalm 122: 6)

Verse 27: “ For it is written,

“Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate one
Than of the one who has a husband.”

Paul applies the passage from Isaiah 54:1 to the Jerusalem above. The verse in Isaiah is speaking of the coming habitation of now desolate Jerusalem, making it clear that God can bring abundant blessing where, humanly speaking, none is forthcoming. That principle, already at work in the birth of Isaac to barren Sarah, found expression in Paul’s day when Gentile believers became part of the people of God.

Verse 28: “And you brothers, in accordance with Isaac, are children of promise.”

Just as Isaac inherited the promises made to Abraham, so today believers are the recipients of God’s redemptive promises, because they are spiritual heirs of Abraham. Please note we are talking about spiritual blessings, not material prosperity. Many charlatans create schemes “cherry picking” verses out of context to lead people to think that giving to a certain ministry will bring monetary blessings to the giver. Please see what is happening. The false preacher says, “Give me your money and God will give it back to you.” I say, “I have a better idea, I will keep my money and God can give it to you directly.”  

Verse 29: “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.”

Ishmael’s descendants (Muslims) have always persecuted Isaac’s (Jews). So unbelievers have always persecuted believers when the truth is preached. The gospel is offensive to those who are not God’s elect. 

Verse 30: “ But what does the Scripture say?

‘Cast out the servant-woman and her son,
For the son of the servant-woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.’”

We are not slaves to sin or under the curse of the law. We are under a grace that changes us. No one who seeks salvation from the Law will ever know the peace that comes from a salvation based on grace through faith.

Verse 31: “So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, but of the free woman.”

Paul continually points us back to the Genesis narrative, reminding the believers that belonging to the slave woman (or returning to the Law of Moses) will never result in receiving the inheritance that comes from faith. Paul is making a strong case against the Judiazers.