Gal. 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
"O foolish Galatians" - Paul is not very tactful is he; he just tells it like it is. You are not using your brains. Someone must have cast a spell on you for you not to obey the truth. You were personally and clearly presented with the truth of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, His sacrifice for our sins.
Luther expresses Paul’s declaration as follows: “No artist with all his colors could have pictured Christ to you as vividly as I have pictured Him to you by my preaching.”
Gal. 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul says, just tell me one thing; How did you receive the Spirit—by doing the works of the law or by responding in faith to what you heard? He knew that if they thought this through logically, there would only be one answer — the right one.
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Gal. 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Are you without reason? You began your Christian walk in the Spirit by faith. Do you think you can do or become better by works done in the flesh?
I liked Guzik’s observation: “Under law, we are blessed and grow spiritually by earning and deserving. Under grace, we are blessed and grow spiritually by believing and receiving.”
Gal. 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Then he reminds them of the suffering and persecution they have faced because of their faith. Was it for nothing? Didn't they learn anything from the experience?
"if it be yet in vain" - Paul still holds out hope that they are basing their salvation on faith and not works.
Gal. 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
He asks them to look inward — Does the one who sent you the Spirit and works miracles among you do this because you are obeying the law or because of your faith?
Basically, all I've done is paraphrase what the scripture is saying to me, but following are some lessons to learn from these verses.
1. Christians are to hold each other accountable for their actions.
2. Christians are susceptible to the lies of Satan and the world. (We need to stay prayed up and filled up.) We need to evaluate everything by comparing it to the truth of God's word.
3. God made man unique with the ability to choose and reason. Once we accept Jesus, we do not become Christian robots that automatically do what is right.
4. Once you know the truth, you should be able to recognize what is false with some careful examination.
5. If obedience to the law was the key, they should have been able to experience the power of the Spirit before the crucifixion of Jesus.
6. The truth of faith and being able to utilize the power of the Spirit are directly connected to the crucifixion of Jesus (and His resurrection—this is implied since the truth involves the whole).
7. Identifying yourself with Jesus will bring suffering and/or persecution.
8. The Spirit is a gift from the Father to His children.
Gal. 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
It was the fact that Abraham believed God that God identified him as righteous. Righteousness was imputed to Abraham because of His faith—not his works.
Genesis 15:6 “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Gal. 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Then Paul says basically that our faith—our belief in the Son of God—connects us to Abraham as his spiritual children.
Gal. 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
I like this verse. It always makes me think of the old example of a person looking down on a parade and seeing the whole thing, while the person on the ground can only see what is in front of him. Nothing about the future was hidden from God from the very beginning. God chose Abraham to be the human root from which would come the Branch of blessing to the heathen.
Genesis 18:17-18 “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?”
Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”
Zechariah 6:12 “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD….”
Heathen is a good word. It doesn't color or soften the picture of the kind of people we are. Heathen sounds dirty and wicked. Not only that, the plan always included faith as the key to justification. (I guess you have heard the old definition for justification — just as if I'd never sinned.) When the promise was given to Abraham, it was presented as a done deal. God's provision for our salvation was never dependent on anything on our part.
I just noticed that the verse started with "And the scripture, forseeing…preached." This is identifying the scripture with the Word, Jesus. I think this is the first time I have noticed that. What a confirmation of John 1:1—“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God's salvation was always intended for ALL nations.
Gal. 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Our blessing as believers is the same as Abraham's. He didn't know the full story, but he believed God. How blessed we are to know the whole story. I guess that's why the LORD balanced it out by being more visible and audible to the Old Testament saints—they really didn't know or understand how their salvation was going to come about or the sacrifice it would require. We may not get to see Him visibly, but we have the whole story and the ability to look back and see all the fulfillment of prophecy. Not only that, we are getting to see prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime. I think it is significant that God chooses to emphasize "faithful Abraham." As the book of Hebrews emphasizes—“without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Our faithfulness is important to Him—it is pleasing to Him.
Gal. 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Paul continues to draw a picture of the difference in faith and "doing" the works of the law. He quotes the Old Testament to remind them that there is a curse on those who do not continue in ALL things written in the law. Failure in one point = failure.
Deuteronomy 27:26 “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.”
James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
This is in direct contrast to the believer who is blessed.
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”
Gal. 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Now he flat out states, "No Man is justified by the law in the sight of God." "The just shall live by faith." (Paul was quoting from Habakkuk 2:4 “…but the just shall live by his faith.”) This is the gospel they have been preaching all along. It's the only gospel (cf 1:9).
Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost….”
Gal. 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
If a person chooses to live by the law, then he will be judged accordingly as stated in Leviticus.
Leviticus 18:5 “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.”
One’s eternal life will be determined by one’s obedience to that law, and we already know that all have sinned. Life is eternal; it will either be in the presence of God or an existence that is banished from His presence.
John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power….”
"The law is not of faith." - Faith depends on God through the finished work of Jesus as our Redeemer, and the keeping of the law depends on man. I know on whom I'm depending; and it's not on me.
Gal. 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
“Christ” = the Messiah, the one and only Son of God
hath "redeemed" — bought back what had been lost; you would only buy back something that was of great worth to you. The word studies of K. Wuest add insight—“from ‘exagorazo’ – bought out of the slave market, never to be put up for sale again in any slave market.”
us — you, me, our loved ones...
from the curse of the law — spiritual death, being separated from God because we can’t keep the whole law
being made a curse for us: — made sin for us to suffer the judgment of our sin
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
for it is written — breathed from God to man
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. — This is a statement from Deuteronomy 21:22 where it spoke of the hanging of the body on the tree as evidence that the person died of a crime guilty of death. When Christ was "hung on the tree," crucified, He was hanging there in place of me; I was the one who deserved to die. My understanding is that the body was hung on the tree in Old Testament times as a deterrent to the "breaking of the law." It was a fear tactic that God turned into a love tactic. He wants us to realize how much He loves us and realize that we don't have to suffer death if we will just accept His sacrifice of love.
Gal. 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Abraham was promised that through his seed ALL the nations of the earth would be blessed. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (I've heard in the past that when these two terms are used together, it's an emphasis of His humanity and deity in one person.) Not only did God choose to redeem us through the sacrifice of His Son, He has given us the Spirit…
to teach us the Word — John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
to encourage us to good works — Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
to comfort and strengthen us in times of trial or testing — Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. — and — Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…
to provide a way out when we are tempted — 1Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
to work through us by giving us special gifts of ministry — 1Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
to help us pray when we don't know how, etc. — Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
All this is available to us by FAITH.
Gal. 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
"after the manner of men" — in a way that you will understand. Even a man's covenant (promise, agreement) cannot be changed once it has been confirmed (made authoritative, ratified).
Gal. 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Here we are told that the promises were made to Abraham and his seed; then we are even told that his seed (singular) was Christ. That helps to understand from the human viewpoint God's tremendous patience and mercy toward His chosen people—His promise was to His Sonwho was to come from this people.
Gal. 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Such an emphasis has been placed on the law that Paul emphasizes that the covenant of the law came 430 years after the promise to Abraham and Christ. The introduction of the law did nothing to change the covenant with Abraham. The Mosaic covenant involving the law was to reveal man's need for a Savior.
Gal. 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
If our inheritance (blessing) depends on the law, then it negates God’s promise. God's promise to Abraham was dependent on God; the blessings promised through obedience to the law given to Moses were dependent on man. God would never allow a promise to His Son to become dependent on the works of man. God's promise to Abraham was totally dependent on God's grace and love, and the Scripture affirms over and over again that His love never fails.
Lamentations 3:22 “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”
1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love never fails.”
1John 4:8 “…for God is love.”
Gal. 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal. 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Well, I understand the first sentence—What is the purpose of the law? God gave us the law because of our sin, to show us our need, to provide a way of maintaining fellowship with God in spite of our sin (in combination with the sacrificial system) until the "Seed should come to whom the promise was made" — the Messiah, Jesus. Again, I think we are seeing the emphasis that the real heart of God is toward His Son. Our blessing comes because of the Son's love for His Father.
The word "ordain" means to put into effect, to decree, order, establish or enact. So the literal interpretation would seem to mean that it was enacted by angels in the hands of a mediator. I know that angels are messengers. Does this mean that God used the angels in the giving of the law (not just the commandments) to the people through Moses, the mediator (a position eventually assumed by the high priest)? A couple of verses shed a bit of light.
Deuteronomy 33:2 “And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.”
Psalm 68:17 “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.”
We know that a mediator isn't needed unless there is more than one entity involved—but God is one. Therefore, the mediator is needed between God and someone else (humanity, you and me). Also, a mediator is only needed when communication or fellowship has been suspended or destroyed between parties (for any number of reasons—in this case, sin).
Gal. 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Does the law go against the promises of God? No. If there could have been a law that would have provided spiritual life and righteousness, then that is what God would have used.
Gal. 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
The Scripture concludes that we are ALL under sin; there is none righteous…
Psalms 14:3 “…there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one….”
...Because of that and because of His love for us, we were given the promise of a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would be able to give us the spiritual life that the law could not. All that God requires is that we accept His provision in faith.
Gal. 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
"Before faith came" — This is a bit confusing since even Abraham and many other Old Testament saints were justified by faith. It appears that this would refer to specific faith in Jesus and His work on the cross.
"we were kept under the law" — The language seems to indicate bondage or prison, which is where sin puts us. We would continue to be bound by obedience to the law and the sacrificial system until Jesus was revealed to be the One in whom our faith was to be invested. Guzik makes a good point, however, in noting that those who were obedient to the law were protected (from the Greek for “kept”). He states, “It protects us by showing us God’s heart. It protects us by showing us the best way to live. “
This seems to be a good place for an excerpt from my journal in Romans.
Rom. 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
When God gave the law to man through Moses, He was giving us a standard by which to measure ourselves, a method through which to identify sin in our lives (as we learned in chapter 3).
Romans 3:20 “… for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Through comparison to God’s stated standards, the fact that our lives abound with sin is revealed. The giving of the law was a loving act by God. We can only appreciate the value of the gift in comparison to our need for it. Jesus established this principle when explaining what inspires love and then making application to the woman who washed His feet with her tears in repentance of her sin.
Luke 7:41-43 “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”
Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
It takes much grace to provide for much sin, and God’s grace is available in abundance to the sinner—far more than He actually needs. Our need is to have our sins forgiven; His grace provides for us to go beyond that forgiveness and empowers us to live in obedience to Him and earn heavenly rewards.
[end excerpt]
Gal. 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law was meant to show us our need for Christ, just as a teacher reveals truths to students. This wasn’t just a dead end fact. We weren't left without a way to fill that need. We can be justified by faith. We can be made whole—just as if I'd never sinned.
Gal. 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Once we have accepted Jesus’ finished work on the cross by faith, we no longer have a need for a teacher to show us what we need; we have graduated. We have the Holy Spirit ever with us to correct and teach us as necessary.
Time for another excerpt from Romans.
Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom. 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
One purpose of the law was to guide us into righteous living. It provided loving guidelines, but had no power to make us obey those guidelines. Obedience was subject to the flesh, the choice of the person as to whether to obey or not—and we discussed earlier our natural response to the forbidden (cf 7:8). In His great mercy God decided to make a way for us to be able to fulfill the righteousness of the law. He sent “His own Son” to earth as a man. The word likeness means “resemblance, similar.” He was born without the sin nature (just like Adam was first created) inherited through Adam; He was born the seed of the woman—not the man.
Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
“for” sin – through (all over); (to “pierce”); through (as adverb or preposition), i.e. across:—beyond, farther (other) side, over.
I was a bit surprised when I looked up this word. It seems to be saying that God’s Son, Jesus, was sent in the flesh to get man beyond the reach of sin, to “pierce” the sin nature. How? By condemning sin in the flesh through His victorious life of righteousness and obedience. He was tempted in every way that we are tempted; He can truly empathize with every struggle or sorrow or frustration or with which we are confronted in this life. Yet, He responded in victory—never yielding to sin.
Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Through His willing sacrifice on the cross and glorious resurrection, we (believers) can now experience victory over our own sin nature. Our choice is to walk, live our life, in obedience through the guidance and empowerment of the Spirit of God that indwells us. Our desire is to live so as to reflect the character of Jesus and the righteousness of the law. [end excerpt]
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we become God's children, His sons and daughters. Sometimes I just sit and think about what that means. It's pretty amazing to me that the God described in Job 38-41 and Isaiah 40-46 has taken me as His child, His daughter. And still I struggle with sin??????
And one more excerpt from Romans.
Rom. 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
It stands to reason that if we are children of God, we are heirs to all that He possesses, joint-heirs with Jesus His Son.
Hebrews 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds….” [end excerpt]
Gal. 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Paul is telling the people that their identifying with Christ in baptism was like putting on NEW clothing—not just any clothing; they had put on Christ. To “put on Christ” is to clothe ourselves with His power and His character. We should live accordingly.
Baptism is a public declaration of one’s faith in Jesus. It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Once we put on Christ there is no such thing as Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female—we are all God's children, all on level ground. There isn’t one set of blessings for some and another set for others. We all have access to the same privileges and the same source of power to enable us to live victoriously.
Gal. 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
If we are God's children through Christ, then we are also the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. The "seed” is referring to our heritage. Our spiritual heritage is of Abraham since he is our father in the faith. He was the one through whom the promise of Christ was made (cf v14).
Gal. 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal. 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal. 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal. 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal. 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Our position as a child in the family is secure, but we aren't ready for responsible service until we have been trained. We may be heirs to royalty, but we are no more than servants until we become more mature. We are dependent on guidance and instruction from the Father and His designees. The Father is the one who decides when one is ready for the responsibilities accompanying one’s position.
"when we were children" - I think were is the operative word here. He is talking to Christians who should know more—who have been taught. Our Christian growth is to be a continual thing.
"we were in bondage" - Again, were is the key. Bondage to what? "The elements of the world.” My margin uses the word rudiments as a synonym for elements, a reference to the fundamental state of things. The natural state of the world we are born in is "sinful." Again, this is emphasized by the Law.
"the fulness of time" - This phrase is always dependent on the will of God. He is the one who determines the fulness of time—the perfect timing for every process of science, every point of prophecy, every bit of molding of His vessels of service, etc. So God sent His Son to the earth as a child, born of a woman (emphasizing the virgin birth)—and He was born subject to the same laws God established for man. He didn't have a special set of laws. He was born a human being.
The whole purpose for which Jesus was born was to redeem "those who were under the law." That identifies all of mankind. (Pastor Fidel was giving an explanation of redemption this weekend and used S&H Green stamps for an example—boy did I feel old because I remember pasting the stamps in books as a child.) He was making it possible for us to be adopted as the sons of God. When you are adopted, you have the same rights and privileges as that of a naturally born child. The mind-boggling thing is that He did this with full knowledge of each one of us and all the baggage we bring—our hard headedness, our lack of patience, our pride, our ingratitude, our selfishness, our laziness.
I'm back to God is so good to me!!!! He won't write me off. He will forgive me every time I confess and ask for forgiveness. He wants to use me in service if I will but submit.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
This is a sweet verse. When we call out to God as our "Father," that is a witness of the Spirit in our life. If you never have a desire to approach God as your Father, then maybe you need to reexamine your life. When I think of the word Father, it represents many different things. I think love, protection and security are the first things that come to mind, but teacher, disciplinarian, provider, and example are words that follow close behind.
Gal. 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
The difference is in servanthood and sonship. A son is motivated by love and not by force or fear. As sons, we are heirs of God through Christ. It's important that we never forget who made this position possible (Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God) and why (because of His love for His Father and for us; to provide a way of restoring fellowship between the Creator and the creation, our whole reason for being). Cf 3:26
I liked Luther’s thoughts concerning a son and heir: “A son is an heir, not by virtue of high accomplishments, but by virtue of his birth. He is a mere recipient. His birth makes him an heir, not his labors. In exactly the same way we obtain the eternal gifts of righteousness, resurrection, and everlasting life. We obtain them not as agents, but as beneficiaries. We are the children and heirs of God through faith in Christ. We have Christ to thank for everything.”
Gal. 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal. 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
"when ye knew not God" - a position we all come from. I think this know is referring to that intimate relationship. We naturally serve others whom we deem to have authority over us even though they are in no way on par with God.
There really is no understanding how someone who has really come to "know" God as Father could desire to abandon that relationship and put themselves back under the bondage of the law. The phrase "or rather are known of God" is quite intriguing. I think it tends to tie in to the idea of adoption. You can't receive the full benefits of sonship until the Father chooses you as His child. I personally believe that sonship is open to each individual. (See Topical Study – “Predestination, Salvation and Security.”)
John 6:45 “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
The moment of sonship comes when we receive His gift of salvation. He then affirms it with the seal of the Holy Spirit, and we are then "known of God."
Gal. 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Paul now makes the observation that they are observing days, months, times and years. My Bible cross references Romans 14:5 where it talks about different men thinking that certain days were more important than others. Then he goes on to express the feeling that maybe his labor has been in vain among them. I think the point he is making is that observances of the law should not be our focus. Our focus should be directed toward the One those observances are intended to honor. When we are serving Christ in love with the freedom and adoration of a child, we are not bound by the laws and traditions of men—even if they were established with the best intentions. Christ is to have the preeminence in our lives.
Gal. 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Paul is concerned that all the work and effort he has put into teaching them has been for naught. (How many parents go through that thought process.) I think it is another tool that the enemy uses to try and discourage us; to make us feel like we can't really make a difference. We have to learn to rest in the fact that our responsibility is to obey; God is responsible for the results.
Gal. 4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
"Brethren" - It is obvious that Paul feels close ties, family ties to the Galatians.
"beseech" - Paul is begging, pleading with them to listen to his heart.
"be as I am" - How many of us really feel comfortable in asking others to imitate us? That is one of our goals and responsibilities as a Christian—to set examples that can be imitated. Paul could say this because he was truly trying to live according to the will of God. I think the context goes on to explain that Paul wants them to enjoy the freedom they have in Christ. They weren't bound to the law and should never become bound to the law. He became as they were—free from the bondage of the law—and has no regrets for it. It was the right thing to do.
Gal. 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal. 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal. 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Evidently the first time that Paul shared the gospel with the Galatians he was suffering from some type of physical infirmity. This affliction was such that it was a trial to them (repulsive in its outward manifestation?). Instead of responding in a negative way and rejecting him, they gave him the best of care, just as if he had been an angel or even Christ Himself. This probably had a lot to do with the feeling of family that he had towards these people. We, as Christians, have to be oh so careful not to make judgments on people or deal with people based on outward appearance or circumstances. We should bend over backwards to love the unlovely. We should have a servant spirit and be willing to help those who need help.
Paul senses that they have lost the joy, the blessedness of the spirit that they once had. He could personally testify they had served him with a sacrificial spirit and unconditional love—to the point that they would have gladly given him their own eyes if that had been possible. (This indicates that his ongoing affliction concerned his eyes and was evidently repulsive.)
Gal. 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Paul is confronting them - Do they now consider him an enemy for telling them the truth? This is a responsibility from which we often shy away because we want to be liked. Confrontation is hard - especially when the heart is so tied up in those you need to confront. God tells us that those He loves, He chastens. As His ambassadors, we have the same authority and responsibility through Him to chastise one another as well as comfort, encourage, serve, etc.
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
Gal. 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
Gal. 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
What a description of the human spirit—usually motivated by selfishness (I - me – pride). Those who were trying to pervert Paul’s teaching were evidently very zealous in their efforts, approaching them from an aspect of concern for their well-being. I think many cults use that same type of approach.
Isn't it sad that so often those who are most zealous are those who are teaching a false gospel? What Paul wanted the Galatians to recognize was that the motivation for the zealousness was to make the Galatians zealous toward them and to forget about Paul. In other words, they wanted to use them for their own purposes—and such actions are almost always motivated by greed and the lust for power.
Paul lets them know that to be zealous is wonderful when it is toward the right thing. They should always be eager to do good whether Paul was with them or not.
Gal. 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
"My little children" - Paul has a feeling of family towards these for whom he labored; he worked hard, to bring them to saving faith in the Savior. The work was a process, like childbirth is a process. Now he feels like he is starting the process all over again and is determined not to give up until "Christ be formed in you." It's like he is talking to children who have been taught well and grounded in the truth, but they have gone off like rebellious adolescents to try out something new in spite of what Mom and Dad have taught them. (They haven't lost their position in the family, but they have lost fellowship.) He is determined to stick with them until they recognize that they are on the wrong path.
Gal. 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Paul is far away and having to be direct. He would rather be with them so that they could hear his tone and know his heart, a heart full of love and compassion for them. (That's always the limitation of the written word. You can never be sure it is conveying your heart. It is very dependent on the perception of the one in receipt of it. This is often a feeling I have when communicating with those I love—Will they hear my heart through the words?) He has doubt about how they will hear what he has to say. A couple of other translations use the phrase, "I am perplexed about you." That may be more of an indication that he doesn't understand how they could be so easily led astray.
Gal. 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
I think my paraphrase of this verse would be: OK, so you think you want to live under the law; do you really know what the law says?
Gal. 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
"it is written" - the source is the word of God. Abraham had two sons—one by a slave, Hagar, and one by a free woman, Sarah.
Gal. 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
The child that was born of the slave was born out of man's attempt to fulfill the promise of God; the son of his chosen wife was born as a result of God's promise in God's time.
Gal. 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
This story is an allegory; it has a deeper meaning. Agar, the bondwoman, represents the covenant of the law as given from Mount Sinai; the law places one under bondage.
Gal. 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Note: Mt. Sinai is in Arabia.
Paul then compares this to the condition in Jerusalem at that time—still under the bondage of the law. In spite of the sacrifice of Jesus who paid the penalty for sin once for all, the temple was still doing a booming business.
Gal. 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Paul has evidently had a vision of the new Jerusalem, which is built on the grace and mercy and promise of God (represented by Sarah) and is free (as opposed to in bondage—not under the law). It's a gift, “not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I thought it would be helpful to chart all my observations in this difficult passage.
Religion of Works - the Law
Ismael - natural birth - flesh
Hagar - bondmaid
Old covenant
Earthly Jerusalem
Judaism - legalism
Cast out
Christianity - Grace
Isaac - supernatural birth - Spirit
Sarah - free woman
New covenant
Heavenly Jerusalem
Christianity - grace
Inherits
- Abraham fathers both.
- Ishmael and Isaac are half-brothers. Ishmael’s descendants have persecuted the Jews throughout history. So too, the child of the flesh has persecuted the child of the Spirit. (see v29)
Gal. 4:27 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.
"it is written" - again identifying the source as the word of God. This is a quote of Isaiah 54:1, “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”
Sarah was the barren woman through whom was to come the child of promise. Through this woman would come the nation of Israel and, spiritually speaking, the church. This nation would have more children than those of "she that hath a husband." After looking at this section of verses many times, the last half of verse 27 still doesn’t compute.
In researching to proceed with my journal in Isaiah 54, I noted the following: “The explanation that seemed to make the most sense referenced Israel as both the desolate woman and the married wife. She has been desolate (out of relationship with the Lord) for much longer than she has been married (in fellowship with the Lord). The “children of the desolate” could be a reference to the “church,” the spiritual children of Abraham since the time of Christ.”
This comment from Luther offered another perspective: “Paul quotes the allegorical prophecy of Isaiah to the effect that the mother of many children must die desolately, while the barren woman shall have an abundance of children. He applies this prophecy to Hagar and Sarah, to the Law and the Gospel. The Law as the husband of the fruitful woman procreates many children. For men of all ages have had the idea that they are right when they follow after the Law and outwardly perform its requirements.”
Luther’s comment makes a lot of sense to me in light of the words of Jesus recorded by Matthew.
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Gal. 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Paul goes on to affirm my thought - we are the children of promise just as surely as Isaac was.
Gal. 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Just as Ishmael (the child of the flesh) persecuted Isaac (the child of the promise) so the same thing is happening now.
This truth is becoming so much more prevalent in our world today. The true children of God that have been born of the Spirit are considered intolerant and dangerous to the establishment of peace. Children of the flesh will allow great leeway for the beliefs and practices of other children of the flesh, but they cannot abide those who have been born again by the Spirit of God and try to live according to God’s will. And I believe the situation is only going to continue to worsen. Jesus summed up the situation as follows.
John 15:19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Gal. 4:30 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.
Then he reminds them what God instructed Abraham - "Cast out the bondwoman and her son"; for he shall not receive the same inheritance as the son of promise, the son of the free woman. Those who choose to live under the law will die under the law and will be judged accordingly; their inheritance is hell (with their chosen father, the father of lies). Those who choose the gift of salvation provided by the Savior will also be judged accordingly—on the merits of Jesus; their inheritance is heaven (with their chosen father, The Father of Love and Truth; the Father who made the promise).
I liked Guzik’s comment on this verse: “Significantly, Sarah could live with Hagar and Ishmael until the son of promise was born. But once Isaac was born, then Hagar and Ishmael had to go. In the same way, a person could relate to the law one way before the promise of the gospel was made clear in Jesus Christ. But now that it has been made clear, there is nothing to do but to cast out the bondwoman and her son.”
Gal. 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Brethren (fellow believers), we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. We are children of the Spirit—not of the flesh.