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Galatians 4:22-30

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

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.

Galatians 4:22-30 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Galatians 4:22

Theological / Devotional

Two sons. Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 16:15; 21:3). Paul now turns to “the law” (see on Gal. 4:21) itself for an illustration of the difference between bondage to “the law” and freedom in Christ. Inasmuch as portions of the Pentateuch were read every Sabbath in the synagogues (see Vol. V, p. 57), the books of Moses were well known to all Jews and to Gentiles who had been attending the synagogue services. The story related was a simple fact of Jewish history, but Paul uses it in an allegorical sense (v. 24) to show the difference between being in bondage to the ceremonial system and enjoying the freedom that comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Abraham actually had more than two sons (see Gen. 25:1, 2), but Ishmael and Isaac were his eldest and most important sons. The false teachers had doubtless been emphasizing the blessing of being sons of Abraham (see on Gal. 3:7). Paul reminds the Galatians that Abraham had two sons and that one fell heir to the covenant promises while the other did not (Gen. 17:19-21). Simply being “sons” of Abraham was no guarantee of receiving the covenant promises.

A bondmaid. Hagar, an Egyptian slave (see on Gen. 16:1-4). Her son Ishmael was the son of Abraham — his firstborn, in fact — but because she was a bondmaid her son was, as it were, a bondson.

A freewoman. That is, Sarah, whose son Isaac was to inherit her freedom.

By SdaBc