Friday, June 28, 2013

Galatians 4:22-31

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 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.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 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. 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.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.


"Without denying the historicity of these accounts from Genesis, Paul draws lessons from them.  Hagar stands for the Mosaic Law, slavery, Mount Sinai, Jerusalem then under the slavery to Rom, and flesh.  Sarah and Isaac stand for the Abrahamic covenant, the heavenly Jerusalem, the Spirit, and freedom." (Ryrie)

one by a slave woman and one by a free woman - "Isaac was born of a free woman (Sarah) in a miraculous way.  Ishmael was born of the slave (Hagar) in the ordinary way." (Ryrie)

this may be interpreted allegorically - "—allegoreo, to speak allegorically, i.e., not according to the plain sense of the words, but applying the facts of the narrative to illustrate principles.  The presence of an allegorical meaning does not deprive the narrative of its literal meaning.  Indeed, while it is at least conceivable that any given narrative may be capable of more than one allegorical meaning, it is plain that but one literal meaning can attach to it ... Much caution is necessary in any attempt to apply the apostle's method of treatment of the story of Sarah and Hagar to other narratives of Scripture.  Imagination and ingenuity are poor substitutes for apostolic guidance." (Vine)

But the Jerusalem above - "—the apostle does not express all the terms of the antithesis; the complete parallel, with its double symbolism, may be thus set out: Hagar the bondwoman with her son Ishmael, born in the course of nature, points to the actual Jerusalem in Palestine with its inhabitants, in bondage, whether political or spiritual; and they in turn point to the Jewish people, whether in the land or of the Dispersion, in bondage to the law, and with them all such Gentiles as put themselves under the law.  Sarah the freewoman, with Isaac, born in fulfillment of a promise, point to the heavenly, the ideal Jerusalem with its inhabitants, under no control of this world; and these, in turn, point to those Jews and Gentiles who have trusted Christ and who are free from the law in Him." (Vine)

So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. - "In Galatians 1:11-2:21, Paul shows that he was divinely commissioned as an apostle and as such was not answerable to the Twelve in Jerusalem.  In chapters 3 and 4, he defends his doctrine of justification faith alone, against the Judaizers who added works to faith as the necessary conditions for salvation.  In Galatians 5:1-6:10, the inspired apostle presents practical teaching and exhortation designed to correct the havoc which the teaching of the Judaizers in the personal lives of the Galatian Christians.  In Galatians 4:19 Paul expresses the wish that the Lord Jesus might again be outwardly expressed in their lives.  The Galatians had lost His beauty which before the coming of the Judaizers had been so prominent in their experience.  The Lord Jesus was not being expressed in their lives as heretofore.  This was the direct result of the Judaizer's legalistic teachings.  The Galatian Christians, instead of depending upon the indwelling Spirit to produce in their live the beauty of the Lord Jesus, now were depending upon self-effort in an attempt to obey law.  Accordingly, Paul's practical teaching emphasizes the ministry of the Spirit, and the Galatians are exhorted to put themselves again under His control." (Wuest)

"In Galatians 4 Paul uses this example, declaring that Hagar, the slave girl, speaks to us of the Law and its bondage and represents Jerusalem of that day, 'in bondage with her children' (Ver 25).  Sarah on the other hand, speaks of grace, and represent 'Jerusalem which is above, [which] is free, which is the mother of us all' (Ver 26).  Ah, many people, religious people, think that the Law produces greater results than grace.  How wrong they are!" (Stam)

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