Galatians 4
(1) From Slaves to Heirs
Even though the heir of an estate is technically the boss, the heir will be no different from a slave until he becomes an adult. While the heir remains a child, he’ll still be under his guardians and overseers until the day appointed by his dad.
And that’s how it is with us:
While we were children, we were slaves to the forces of the world… but when the time came, God sent His Son to be born under the law by a human mother so He could buy back everyone who was under the law. He bought us back so we could become the adopted children of God.
Because we’re His children, God sent His Son’s Spirit into our hearts which cries, “Papa!” And now we aren’t enslaved to the world anymore, but rather, we’re the offspring of God Himself. And if we’re God’s offspring, then we’re also heirs who will inherit His estate.
That was only made possible thanks to God’s kindness.
(8) Why Become Slaves Again?
But back then, you didn’t know about God, and you were enslaved to entities who aren’t God’s offspring. But now that you know God (or should I say, “now that God knows you”) why are you turning back to the weak, cowering forces of the world? It seems like you want to be enslaved to them all over again! You pay so much attention to the days, months, seasons, and years. I’m scared for you, because all the hard work I poured into you might have been in vain.
(12) Paul is Disappointed with the Galatians
I beg of you, my spiritual family: become like me [free from Jewish law], since I became like you [non-Jews]. You guys have never wronged me in any way—you’ve only helped me! Remember my physical condition when I told you about the good news last time? You might have been tempted to reject me because of my condition, but instead, you brought me in as if I were God’s messenger—or even the Chosen One Himself! You used to have so much excitement about being blessed—what happened to it? I remember how you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if possible.
Am I your enemy now for telling you the truth?
Those false teachers want you—but not in a good way. They’re trying to exclude you so that you’ll miss them. It can be good for people to miss you if it’s in a good way (and not just when I’m present with you).
You guys are my children, but I feel like I’m going into labor with you all over again until the Chosen One is formed in you. I wish I could be there with you and change my tone, because I’m at a loss with you.
(21) We’re Children of God’s Promise—Not the Flesh
Don’t you have to follow the entire law if you want to remain under it?
As it’s written, Abraham had two sons—one with an enslaved woman and one with a free woman. The enslaved woman’s son was born as a result of the flesh, while the free woman’s son was born as a result of the promise. It’s a metaphor, because these two women represent two alliances:
The first woman was Hagar (who was from Mount Sinai in Arabia), and she gave birth to children who would become slaves. She corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because she and her children were in slavery.
But the heavenly Jerusalem is free—and she is OUR mother.
After all, it’s written,
“To the infertile woman who doesn’t have kids: you should celebrate! You should burst out and shout if you are the woman not in labor. Because the woman who’s all alone will have more children than the one who has a husband.”
—Isaiah 54:1
My spiritual family, you guys are children of promise, like Isaac. But in Genesis, the child who was born from the flesh was hostile toward the one who was born from the Spirit—and that’s how it still is today.
Remember what the writings say?
“Kick out the slave woman and her son, because the slave woman’s son won’t be an inheritor with the free woman’s son.”
—Genesis 21:10
So, my spiritual siblings, we aren’t children of the enslaved woman, but of the free woman.
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