Heirs, No Longer Slaves
When the time was full our Father sent his Son to buy out slaves and make them sons, and sent the Spirit crying Abba. Paul is bewildered that the Galatians would go back to calendars and slavery, and aches over them like a mother in labor.
4 1I mean: while the heir is a child, he's no different from a slave, though he owns everything. 2He is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elemental forces of the world. a a v3 'Elemental forces' refers to the basic spiritual powers or ruling principles that governed human life before Christ came. 4When the time had fully come, our Father sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might be received as sons. b b v5 Restoration to full sonship: our Father granting His child the full standing of a son — full rights, full inheritance, full belonging. Not a distant legal arrangement, but the family He made us for.
6And because you are sons, our Father sent his Son's Spirit into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" c c v6 "Abba" was Jesus' own intimate cry to our Father — the name a child uses for the dearest parent. Through the Spirit of his Son, our Father places that same cry on the lips of every restored son and daughter.
7So you're no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir through our Father.
The Father Knows You by Name
8Back then, not knowing our Father, you were enslaved to those not gods by nature. 9But now that you know our Father—or rather, are known by our Father—how can you turn back again to the weak, worthless elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved by them again? 10You are observing days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you—my work for you may be wasted. 12Become like me, brothers and sisters, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13You know I first preached the gospel to you because of a bodily illness, 14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel of our Father—as Christ Jesus himself. 15Where, then, is your blessing? I testify you'd have torn out your eyes and given them to me, if you could. 16So have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They court you eagerly, but not well; they want to shut you out, so you'll court them eagerly. 18Passion for a good cause is always good—not only when I'm with you.
19My children, for whom I am again in labor pains, until Christ is shaped in you. 20I wish I were with you now, to change my tone—I'm at a loss about you.
Hagar and Sarah: Two Covenants
21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22For Scripture says Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, one by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born by the flesh; his son by the free woman, through promise. 24This is an allegory: the women represent two covenants. One, from Mount Sinai, bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. 25Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and matches today's Jerusalem, since she is enslaved with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
27For it is written: Rejoice, barren woman who bears no child; burst out and shout, you who feel no labor pains; the deserted woman has more children than she who has a husband.
28Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But as then the son born the ordinary way persecuted the son born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never inherit with the free woman's son." 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
