Explore the Bible Online

Galatians 4:21-31

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

21. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23. But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. 24. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27. For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now. 30. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Galatians 4:21-31 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Galatians 4:21

Theological / Devotional

Desire. See on v. 9. In vs. 21-31 Paul enters his final appeal against the folly of Jewish legalism as a means of salvation.

Under the law. Literally, “under law,” that is, under the legal system (see on Rom. 2:12; Gal. 2:16), seeking salvation by works. Obviously Paul cannot be referring to the condemnation of “the law,” for no one would “desire” to be under condemnation.

Hear. That is, heed, pay attention to (see on Matt. 7:24).

The law. Paul now uses the word “law” in a different sense. The illustration of v. 22 is from the Pentateuch, to which the Jews commonly referred as “the law” or “the law of Moses” (see on Luke 24:44). In order to convince the “foolish Galatians” (Gal. 3:1) of their mistake in turning to the works of the ritual law for salvation, Paul went to “the law” of Moses, which contains the ritual law, for evidence. Paul’s question was intended to arouse the Galatians to investigate the revealed word of God. Should they do so candidly, they would discover for themselves the very thing he has sought to explain to them, namely, that “the law” points to Jesus as the one on whom they must depend for their salvation. Paul was continually quoting from the Pentateuch in support of his teachings concerning the message and mission of Jesus.

By SdaBc