Lesson 4869

 (Lesson 4869) (05-30-25) Galatians 4:21-31 

   “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 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. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 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. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” 

 

   In today’s lesson, Paul used the story of Abraham's two sons—Ishmael (by Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar) and Isaac (by Abraham’s wife, Sarah). As a metaphor, Paul explained that Hagar represented the old covenant of the Law given at Mount Sinai, which brought bondage to those who were bound by it, while Sarah represented the new covenant of freedom through the promise of a coming Savior. Paul emphasized that those who put their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, like Isaac, are children of promise, not of bondage as was afforded by the old laws. Just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac, those under the Law persecuted those born of the Spirit. Paul concluded that believers are not children of the handmaiden, (the Law), but of the freewoman, Abraham’s wife, signifying that the old Hebrew laws were set aside by Christ's coming and ultimate sacrifice. ~