Galatians 4:25

Agar. Or, Hagar.

Is mount Sinai. That is, in Paul’s allegory (see on v. 24), Hagar here represents the Sinai covenant of works (see on ch. 3:19). Through Hagar and her son Ishmael, Abraham at one time intended to work out God’s plan. It was his way of doing it, but not God’s. It is not God’s plan that man’s salvation shall be accomplished by works of law, for the simple reason that it is impossible to do so.

Answereth to. Or, “is comparable to,” that is, in Paul’s allegory.

Jerusalem which now is. That is, literal Israel as a nation. Israel was still making the mistake that Abraham made with Hagar and Ishmael, of attempting to work out God’s purpose according to a man-made plan. Thus by substituting works for faith in God’s promises, as Abraham had done, the Galatians were reverting to the very kind of worship that had brought Israel as a nation into bondage, ruin, and rejection.

Is in bondage. See on 2 Cor. 3:14, 15; Gal. 4:3.

Her children. That is, individual Jews and proselytes.