Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians Justification by Faith – The Position of Sonship as Believers Galatians 4:1-31

Part 3

Looking at the illustrious life of Abraham (Gen. 16; 17; 18; 20; 21) Paul was appealing to the founder of the Jewish nation from whose physical descent the Jews traced their blessings (v. 22).  John the Baptist and Jesus declared that physical descent from Abraham was not enough, however, to guarantee spiritual blessing (Matt. 3:9; John 8:37-44).  Paul reminded the Galatians that Abraham had two sons and they should consider which of the two they were most like.  One son Isaac was born of Sarah, the free woman; the other son Ishmael was born of Hagar, the slave woman.

In verse 23, Paul wanted the Galatians to consider the ways in which the sons were conceived.  Ishmael was born in the ordinary way, that is, in the course of nature and requiring no miracle and no promise of God.  Isaac, on the other hand, was born as the result of a promise.  Abraham and Sarah were beyond the age of childbearing, but God miraculously fulfilled His promise in bringing life out of the deadness of Sarah’s womb (Rom. 4:18-21).

In verse 24, Paul then pointed to two covenants: one, the Mosaic Covenant, that had it origin at Mt. Sinai; then to the Abrahamic Covenant, a gracious system represented by Sarah that brought about a Messianic promise.  Simply put, Hagar brought forth a slave and Sarah brought Messianic promise and hope.

In verses 25-26, Paul pointed to two Jerusalem(s).  Hagar stood for the first century city of Jerusalem, a city enslaved to Rome and in slavery to the Law.  Sarah corresponded to Jerusalem above, the mother of all the children of grace.  This heavenly city, which one day will come to earth (Rev. 21:2) is now the “city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22), the home of departed believers of all ages.

In verse 27, Paul quotes from Isaiah 54:1, prophesying the changing fortunes of Israel, which he applied to Sarah’s history.  Israel before her Babylonian captivity was likened to a woman with a husband.  The barren woman was Israel in captivity.

The woman bearing more children may have pictured Israel restored to the land after the exile, but also portrays Israel’s millennial blessings.  Paul applied this passage to Sarah, who was once barren, but later blessed with a child, and who will ultimately enjoy a greater progeny than Hagar.

In verses 28-30, Paul will make three comparisons in applying the truth from the biblical illustration.  First, Paul compared the birth of Isaac in verse 28 to that of Christians.  As “Isaac” experienced a super-natural birth and was a child by means of a promise, so each believer experiences a supernatural birth (St. John 3:3, 5), and is a recipient of the promise of salvation (Gal. 3:9, 22, 29).  As children of God, we should not live as children of bondage.

Second, in verse 29, Paul compared Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac to the false teachers’ opposition to believers.  As Abraham celebrated the weaning of Isaac, Ishmael laughed derisively at Isaac, thinking and assuming that he would be heir to his father’s estate since he was the oldest (Genesis. 21:8-9).  This early animosity has been perpetuated in the two peoples which descended from the two sons of Abraham and is seen in the current Arab-Israel tensions.  Paul likened the Judaizers to Ishmael, who continue to persecute true believers who were born by the power of the Spirit.

Third, in verse 30, Paul compared the action of Abraham to the obligation of the Galatians.  When Sarah observed Ishmael mocking Isaac, she asked honorable Abraham to expel the slave woman and her son lest Ishmael become a joint heir with Isaac.  God granted Sarah’s request (Gen. 21:10, 12).  Law observance brings no inheritance; thus, Judaizer should be excommunicated with their false doctrine.  In verse 31, Paul concluded his argument affirming that Galatian believers were not children of the slave woman who was driven away and denied a share in the inheritance.  Rather, all believers are children of the free woman, “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

May God Bless!