Galatians 4
1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father.
7Therefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8But then, when you knew not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9But now, after you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10You observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.
12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you are: you have not injured me at all.
13You know how through weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14And my trial which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15Where is then the blessedness you spoke of? for I bear you witness, that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17They are zealous of you, but not for good; yea, they would exclude you, that you might be zealous of them.
18But it is good to be zealous always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I stand in doubt of you.
21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.
23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise.
24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from mount Sinai, which brings forth to bondage, which is Hagar.
25For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27For it is written,
Rejoice, you barren that bear not; break forth and cry, you that travail not: for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.
28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30Nevertheless what says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.
31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Commentaries for Galatians 4:0