GALATIANS 4
a) Galatians 4:1-6 – Paul makes a comparison between a child and son.
i. Under the law we are children – Told what to do, no freedom “under tutors and governors”
ii. Christ redeeming work delivered us from the law – Eph 2:12-18, Col 2:9-23, Gal 3:10-13
iii. We are now sons, no longer under the tutors or bondage, but under liberty – Gal 5:1, 13, 2Cor 3:17.
b) Galatians 4:7-11 – Being a son makes us a joint-heir with Christ – Rom 8:14-17, Eph 3:6
i. Verse 9 - If you are now a son and known of God, why do you want to go back to being in bondage?
ii. Paul was afraid of them because maybe they didn’t understand or believe the gospel of grace as they were turning again to the law.
c) Galatians 4:12-20 – Paul would have the Galatians be as he….” walking by faith and with zeal”
i. Paul speaks of the blessedness they had “preached through infirmity of the flesh….. ye would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me”
ii. Zeal is good if it is used with knowledge – Rom 10:2-4, Titus 2:14
iii. Paul is their father in the gospel (1Cor 4:15) and he wants to be assured the they understand the gospel of grace and are trusting in Christ for their completeness (vs 19-21)
d) Galatians 4:21-23 – Those of you who want to be under the law, do you not hear it? – Gal 3:10,12
i. Two sons:
• One by a bondmaid and after the flesh – Gen 16:1-4.
• One by the freewoman and after the Spirit – Gen 21:1-5
e) Galatians 4:24-25 – “Which things are an allegory” – What Paul is saying here he makes clear is “Allegorized, figurative, to gain understanding, not literal”
i. “Two covenants, one from mount Sinai, which is Agar” – This is the law, the one that brings bondage, it is weak and beggarly – Gal 4:9, Rom 14:1-2, 8:3.
ii. Verse 25 – Agar = Mount Sinai in Arabia (The law Exodus 19).
iii. Answers to Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children – Ishmael was born of a bondwoman making him also in bondage. Jerusalem on earth was under the law in bondage still – Acts 15:5, 1Tim 1:6-7.
f) Galatians 4:26-27 – Jerusalem which is above is free, just as we are under Grace.
i. “Which is the mother of us all’ – This is Sarah – Gen 17:15-16,19 – Just like Abraham is the “father of us all” – Abraham = Faith, Sarah = grace, because she did not deserve a child, and she could not produce a child of her own effort and strength.
ii. Like Abraham, Sarah was given a promise of being a mother of “many nations” and “a seed (singular)” – Just like he did with Abraham, Paul is using Sarah as an example of grace to use and how we receive spiritual blessings by promise and in Christ, not of the law - Rom 4:16-17, Gal 3:16
iii. Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 in verse 27 which I believe is a verse about Sarah who was barren but more children than those who are not barren.
g) Galatians 4:28-5:1 – “Now we” – Paul is telling you the point of all this, if you are confused by the previous verses you can know what Paul is saying because he tells us.
i. Verse 28 – We are children of promise – Rom 8:14-17, Eph 3:6.
ii. Verse 29 – Ishmael persecuted Isaac – Gen 21:9 – “Even so it is now” - Jews persecuting the Galatians for not keeping the law.
iii. Verse 30 – “What saith the scripture” – Gen 21:10 – Paul’s point is that we are not under law – Rom 3:28, 6:14, 7:4-7, Eph 2:15.
iv. Verse 31 – That we are not under the law is clear here “So then” We are children of Sarah who represent grace and not the bondwoman who represent the law.
v. Galatians 5:1 – Stand fast in your liberty and don’t put yourself back under the law. You do not need it in Christ because you are a son (mature) and can walk by faith – Gal 3:11
h) Conclusion – We are not under the law, we are children of promise and free.
