College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Galatians 4:21-24
Sarah and Hagar Galatians 4:21-31
TEXT 4:21-24
(21) Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. (23) Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the free woman is born through promise. (24) Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
PARAPHRASE 4:21-24
21 Tell me, ye who wish to be under the law of Moses as the rule of your justification, why do ye not understand the law, which teaches that Abraham's children by faith, who are heirs of the promises, are free from the bondage of the law?
22 For it is written in the law, that Abraham, the father of the people of God, had two sons; one by the bond-maid Hagar, and one by the free-woman Sarah, his wife.
23 But he, verily, who was of the bond-maid, was begotten by the natural strength of his parents, and being born a slave, had not title to inherit his father's estate: But he who was of the free-woman, was begotten through the strength supernaturally communicated to his parents by the promise Lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son, and like his mother being free, was his father's heir.
24 Which things, concerning the sons and wives of Abraham, and the power by which these sons were begotten, and the state into which they were born, are an allegory. For these women, as the mothers of Abraham's children, are types of the two Covenants, by which men become the church and people of God. The one is that verily, which was given from Mount Sinai, which made Abraham's posterity by Isaac only the visible church and people of God, and bringeth forth its children into bondage to the law; which covenant it fitly represented by Hagar, who brought forth her son Ishmael into bondage.
COMMENT 4:21
Tell me
1.
Here Paul invites them to think seriously about an allegory.
2.
After the lesson is presented they are to answer his question.
ye that desire to be under the law
1.
Have you really read and heard the law?
2.
Those who understand the Scripture can see a deeper meaning behind the Scripture.
a.
Therefore Paul is challenging their very best.
b.
They needed to heed 2 Timothy 2:15.
hear the law
1.
It is as though Paul would end his argument in Galatians 4:20, but he decides to give them a lesson from the law itself.
2.
The law has a wide meaning as seen by Paul's use of the term.
a.
Mosaic institutionsthose that they were returning to.
b.
Pentateuchwhere the history is recorded to which the apostle refers.
3.
Scripture is cleartherefore heed itdon-'t treat it like the false teachers do.
THE TWO COVENANTSBOND AND FREE 4:21-31
The false brethren disturbed the brethren in Galatia by adding the law to their Christian experience. Paul states that this is a loss of freedom in Christ. The differences in the covenants are very manifest when placed side by side.
TWO TWO COVENANTS CONTRASTED
FIRST OR OLD
SECOND OR NEW
1.
Given by MosesMalachi 4:4
1.
By ChristHebrews 12:24; John 1:17
2.
Given Only to IsraelDeuteronomy 5:1-4
2.
To All MenMark 16:15-16
3.
Written on Stones2 Corinthians 3:7
3.
In Hearts2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10
4.
Blood of AnimalsHebrews 9:18-19
4.
Blood of ChristHebrews 9:12
5.
No Clear ConscienceHebrews 9:8-9
5.
Makes PerfectHebrews 7:18-19
6.
God Found FaultHebrews 8:7
6.
Better, PerfectHebrews 8:6, James 1:25
7.
Figure of TrueHebrews 9:24
7.
True TabernacleHebrews 8:1-2
8.
Carnal OrdinancesHebrews 9:10
8.
Spiritual Sacrifices1 Peter 2:5
9.
Only Purify FleshHebrews 9:13
9.
Purify Our Souls1 Peter 1:22
10.
Priests Had Sins AlsoHebrews 7:27
10.
Sinless High PriestHebrews 7:26
11.
Was to Pass Away2 Corinthians 3:11
11.
Remains2 Corinthians 3:11, Matthew 24:35
12.
Temporal InheritancePsalms 105:11
12.
Eternal Inheritance1 Peter 1:4
COMMENT 4:22
For it is written
1.
The Scriptures bear witness.
a.
See Genesis 16:15.
b.
See Genesis 21:2.
2.
This was the method of Jesusappealing to God.
that Abraham had two sons
1.
The Sons were symbolic.
a.
Ishmael was born of a bond-maidHagar.
b.
Isaac was born of a free womanSarah.
2.
Paul emphasizes that Sarah is the free woman.
a.
She is mentioned four times as a free woman without calling her by name.
b.
Sarah was a princess in name and held a prominent place in history as the mother of Israel.
c.
She is the type of the New covenant and the covenant of freedom.
3.
Hagar is the symbol of the bond woman.
a.
Physical descent from Abraham is not what is decisive, but spiritual affinity to him.
b.
The children who go back to the law, go back to the woman and her son born in bondage.
COMMENT 4:23
Howbeit the son by the handmaid
1.
This is Ishmaelwho was not of promise.
2.
He was born a slave and came into the world according to the usual course of nature.
3.
Ishmael persecuted Isaac and so in Paul's day, the progeny of the law persecuted the children of the gospel.
born through promise
1.
Isaac was born after the age of procreation had passed.
2.
His birth was supernatural.
COMMENT 4:24
an allegory
1.
From two words meaning another and to speak.
2.
This, signifies a thing that is representative of another.
3.
Here, it is a representative of a spiritual meaning.
for these women are two covenants
1.
Hagar typifies Sinai, the old covenantbondage.
2.
Sarah typifies the Messiah, the new covenantfreedom.
STUDY QUESTIONS 4:21-24
526.
Is Paul enforcing the law on them, since they seem to prefer it?
527.
How is the word law used by the apostle? Does it always refer to Moses, to the Ten Commandments?
528.
Where is the scripture found that Paul quotes?
529.
Who were Abraham's sons?
530.
How are the mothers described?
531.
Who was born after the flesh?
532.
Was his birth natural or supernatural?
533.
Why did God allow this and fail to condemn it, or did He?
534.
What was miraculous about the birth of Isaac?
535.
How is his birth a part of the promise?
536.
Define allegory.
537.
What is represented?
538.
Is a physical seed automatically a child of the promise?
539.
Define covenants.