Galatians
4 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
4
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is under age, he is no different
from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to
guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we
were under age, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of
the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might
receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit
of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba,[c] Father.’ 7 So
you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God
has made you also an heir.
Paul’s
concern for the Galatians
8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are
not gods. 9 But now that you know God – or rather are known by God – how is it
that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to
be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and
months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my
efforts on you.
12
I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you.
You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first
preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you,
you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I
were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is
your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you
would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your
enemy by telling you the truth?
17
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to
alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be
zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am
with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth
until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change
my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and
Sarah
21
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law
says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman
and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born
according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of
a divine promise.
24
These things are being taken figuratively: the women represent two covenants.
One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: this
is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the
present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But
the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is
written:
‘Be
glad, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
break
forth and cry aloud,
you who were never in labour;
because
more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.’[e]
28
Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that
time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power
of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? ‘Get rid of
the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the
inheritance with the free woman’s son.’[f] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters,
we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
The IVP
New Testament Commentary Series
Enjoying
the Full Rights of Sons (4:6-7)
Now
Paul describes the way that children experience their full rights: Because you
are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts (v. 6). The change
from first person (we) to second person (you) shows that the adoption received
by those under law (v. 5) was also received by the Gentile converts. The
confession of faith of Jewish Christians is now the confession of Gentile
Christians. Though Gentiles were not under law in the same way the Jewish
people were, Paul's point is that they too were set free from the tyranny and
curse of the law by the sending of God's Son. And by faith in Christ, they too
have entered into a new relationship with God which involves the enjoyment of
the full rights of sons and daughters of God. Now their life is to be lived not
"under law" but "in Christ."
The
striking parallelism between God sent his Son and God sent the Spirit of his
Son rivets our attention on God's gracious initiative. Just as our position as
sons and daughters was secured by God's action in sending his Son, so our
experience as sons and daughters is the result of God's action in sending the
Spirit of his Son. We could do nothing to attain to the position of sons and
daughters; we can only receive the gift of adoption by faith. We could do
nothing to produce an experience as sons and daughters; the action of God in
sending the Spirit of his Son into our hearts enables us to enjoy our new
relationship with God our Father.
The Bible
Panorama
Galatians
4
V 1–5:
ADOPTION
Paul states that through redemption Christians are adopted by God as His sons.
An adopted child is brought from one family into another. We have been brought
from the ‘family’ of condemnation to the ‘family’ of salvation in Christ. As
such we are heirs who inherit His eternal blessings.
V 6–7: ABBA Paul is quick to point
out that this is not only a legal position, but that God’s Spirit works in our
hearts so that we know Him spiritually and directly as ‘Abba Father’. ‘Abba’
literally means ‘daddy’. We are not slaves, but sons and heirs.
V
8–16: ASTRAY Paul applies this truth and tells them of his concern, because
having been saved by faith in Christ according to God’s promise, they are now
putting themselves into bondage by observing days, months, and seasons. They
seek to fulfil unnecessary legalistic requirements either of a past and extinct
ceremonial law, or of man-made laws. Paul observes the difference that this has
made to their former conduct towards him. Previously he had been encouraged by
their love and their caring warmth. Now he feels treated as an enemy because he
insists on God’s truth about salvation.
V 17–20: APOSTATE The comparison
between the false apostles, who seek to exclude the Galatian Christians from
the grace of God, and Paul’s fatherly concern is obvious. Nevertheless, he is
prepared to act as a good father and reprimand them if necessary.
V 21–31:
ABRAHAM
Paul refers to scriptural history. Abraham and Hagar (a slave) had a son,
Ishmael. Abraham and Sarah, his wife, had the son God promised, namely Isaac.
Paul illustrates two distinct and opposing covenants of law and of freedom,
represented by the two different relationships, which underline what he teaches
the Galatians in this chapter. As Isaac inherited God’s promises to Abraham, so
we inherit God’s promises magnified to repentant sinners in Christ. Thus we are
the free ‘children of promise’ and are born of the Spirit of God. We do not
become God’s children of promise through enslavery to the law or our works.
Yours
for His Sake
Blessings
Blair
Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside
