Galatians 4
4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all, 2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,#4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way. Father!” 7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 10You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 13but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 14That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Messiah Yeshua.
15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. 18But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Messiah is formed in you— 20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written,
“Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear.
Break out and shout, you who don’t travail.
For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.” #Isaiah 54:1
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”#Genesis 21:10 31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
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Galatians 4
4
1Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, #Gal. 4:9; Col. 2:8, 20; Heb. 5:12; 9:10were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4But #(Gen. 49:10)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, #(John 1:14); Rom. 1:3; 8:3; (Phil. 2:7)born #Gen. 3:15; (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:25)of a woman, #(Matt. 5:17); Luke 2:21, 27born under the law, 5#(Matt. 20:28; Gal. 3:13)to redeem those who were under the law, #(John 1:12)that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6And because you are sons, God has sent forth #(Acts 16:7; Rom. 5:5; 8:9, 15, 16; 2 Cor. 3:17)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, #(Rom. 8:16, 17)and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Fears for the Church
8But then, indeed, #1 Cor. 1:21; Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:8when you did not know God, #Rom. 1:25you served those which by nature are not gods. 9But now #(1 Cor. 8:3)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, #Gal. 3:1–3; Col. 2:20how is it that you turn again to #Heb. 7:18the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10#Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I am afraid for you, #1 Thess. 3:5lest I have labored for you in vain.
12Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. #2 Cor. 2:5You have not injured me at all. 13You know that #1 Cor. 2:3because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me #Mal. 2:7as an angel of God, #(Luke 10:16)even as Christ Jesus. 15What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17They #Rom. 10:2zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19#1 Cor. 4:15My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Two Covenants
21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: #Gen. 16:15the one by a bondwoman, #Gen. 21:2the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman #Rom. 9:7, 8; Gal. 4:29was born according to the flesh, #Gen. 16:15; 17:15–19; 18:10; 21:1; Gal. 4:28; Heb. 11:11and he of the freewoman through promise, 24which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount #Ex. 24:6–8; Deut. 33:2Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26but the #(Is. 2:2)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written:
#Is. 54:1“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”
28Now #Rom. 9:7, 8; Gal. 3:29we, brethren, as Isaac was, are #Acts 3:25children of promise. 29But, as #Gen. 21:9he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, #Gal. 5:11even so it is now. 30Nevertheless what does #(Gal. 3:8, 22)the Scripture say? #Gen. 21:10, 12“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for #(John 8:35)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.