Written by Roger D. Campbell
“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?” (Galatians 4:21). Some first century Christians were still trying to follow the old law, and some even sought to be justified by it (5:4). With that in mind, the Spirit guided Paul to remind the churches of Galatia about some matters written in the law. In this instance, “the law” (4:21) refers to matters recorded in the book of Genesis.
In this section of Galatians 4, Paul mentions or alludes to five historical characters who are connected with the history written in Genesis 16 and 21: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, and Ishmael. What is written in the Old Testament about these people and their activities is all historically true. In Galatians 4, by inspiration of the Spirit, Paul shows another special meaning of those events. He says these “things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants . . .” (4:24).
The contrasts to note are numerous: Hagar was a bondmaid, Sarah was a free woman (4:22); Hagar had the ability to bear children, Sarah was barren (4:27); Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was born according to the flesh, while Sarah’s son, Isaac, was born through promise (4:23); the covenant from Mount Sinai versus the Christ’s new covenant (4:24,25); children under bondage versus free children (4:25,26); Jerusalem which now is in bondage versus Jerusalem above which is free (4:25,26); one son of Abraham (Ishmael) persecuted the son (Isaac) born according to the Spirit (4:29); in the end, the bondmaid and her son were cast out while the freewoman and her son remained (4:30).
What is the spiritual significance of such symbolism?
▪ Hagar and Ishmael were symbols of the old covenant given at Sinai (4:25). They were cast out (4:30). This shows that the old law was cast out (Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 10:9; Ephesians 2:14-16).
▪ As Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so Judaizers (those Jews who still were trying to bind the old law in the first century after it had been abolished) persecuted Christians in the first century (4:29).
▪ Christians, not the Judaizers, are heirs of the true spiritual inheritance, which comes only through Jesus the Messiah (4:30; 3:29; Romans 8:17).
▪ Because Christians are the children of the “freewoman,” they are free from the bondage of the law (4:31).
▪ As Isaac was Abraham’s son of promise, so are Christians Abraham’s children of promise (3:26- 29).