The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 19

Paul uses an Allegory to explain the two Covenants   

Galatians 4:21-31

Paul feeling the agony of soul over these Galatians and their spiritual condition as we documented in the last study now is compelled to tell them a story hoping that this might be the very thing that jars them out of their dream world of chasing after the Mosaic Law and not after Christ. The story or allegory Paul writes to them is that of Abraham’s Wife Sarah verses the slave woman Hagar. Note: An allegory is a short moral story or in one sense a speaking or in this case a writing parable akin to what our Lord Jesus Christ spoke in Luke 15 entitled the Prodigal Son. Paul’s allegory is based on true historical facts that are documented in the Word of God.

First, Paul asked them a penetrating question to begin waking or arousing them out of this spiritual sleep state they have thrust themselves into by listening to the nonsense taught by the Judaizing men from Jerusalem. He sees them now determined or desiring to be “under the law”. The English phase Paul uses is “ye that desire” and this is translated by the Greek words thelo and ethelo which means that they choose to or prefer to or are inclined to be “under the law” and no longer “under grace” and this prompts the story of the two women and two sons born from each woman which pictures the two Covenants. We see that Paul had already defined for them what the laws purpose was and what the result was for every person still “under the law” (Galatians 3:10 & Galatians 3:23).

Paul begins his story by reminding them of the difference in the two women Hagar and Sarah, (Hagar was a slave) and this pictures everyone who determines to be justified before God by the Law. However, Sarah was no one’s slave, but was free and she pictures everyone who comes to God the Father through “faith in Christ” as Paul wrote in this manner to the Roman believers, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Paul shows them the difference in the birth of the two sons Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael’s birth was natural meaning that Abraham at the time he had sex with Hagar was still young enough to produce children, however, Isaac’s birth was not natural but it was supernatural because Abraham was passed the aged of producing children (100 years old) and so was his wife Sarah (90 years old) and they required God’s Divine Supernatural intervention to make their bodies function again for sexual intercourse and restore Sarah’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, etc. that she would be able to carry the child for 9 months and then go through the difficulty of labor and delivery at over 90 years old. The difference between the two births is the difference between the curse of the law (Ishmael’s birth) and freedom in Christ (Isaac’s birth). Paul here is using these two women as a picture of the earthly Jerusalem and the Heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12 & Revelation 21:2 & Revelation 21:10).

The Judiazers made circumcision and law keeping as the grounds of sonship (heirs to Abraham), but Paul made “faith in Christ” the only ground of sonship (heirs of Abraham). Paul’s word picture of the two covenants coming forth from Ishmael and Isaac can be vividly witness today between the legalistic worship practiced by Muslims (descendants of Ishmael) verses Holy Spirit worship practiced by truly born again Christians (spiritual heirs of Abraham and spiritual descendants of Isaac). Likewise, today we see the persecution of Christians all over this world by the radical Muslims and their fervent hatred for all of the “spiritual descendants of Isaac” just as their spiritual father Ishmael hated his brother Isaac. It is the difference between the “spirit of anti-christ” (Ishmael) and the “Spirit of Christ” (Isaac).

My own Personal Note: Paul concluded this part of his discourse to these Galatians and to every one of us who would read this letter in future generations by affirming that they (the Galatians, Galatians 4:31) and us today who have placed our trust in the finish work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross are free from the Laws (Mosaic and Moral) demands and decrees because Christ fulfilled them all. Therefore, it was Paul’s desire for those Galatians and for us to flee from the leaven (or teaching) of the Pharisees (which is legalism) as our Lord Jesus Christ said to us with these words, “Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He (Jesus) began saying to His disciples first of all, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’” (Luke 12:1).

“The law and the Gospel cannot coexist. The law must disappear before the Gospel. It is scarcely possible to estimate the strength of conviction and depth of prophetic insight which this declaration implies. The Apostle thus confidently sounds the death knell of Judaism at a time when one half of Christendom clung to the Mosaic law with a jealous affection little short of frenzy, and while the Judaic party seemed to be growing in influence, and was strong enough, even in the Gentile churches of his own founding, to undermine his influence and endanger his life. The truth which to us appears a truism must then have been regarded as a paradox.” J. B. Lightfoot (1828-89)

“In this allegory of Sarah and Hagar, it is important to notice that Paul is not dealing with the principle of evil within our hearts, but with the attempt to mingle two dispensations or methods of religious experience-the Law and the Gospel. He says that the poor slave girl, Hagar, whom Abraham bought as a personal attendant for his wife, stands for Mount Sinai, the mountain of the Law, in the district of Arabia, from which she may have originally come. Hagar also stands for the Judaizers, whose headquarters were at Jerusalem, while their emissaries everywhere dogged the Apostle’s movements, insisting that his converts must come under the old Levitical ceremonialism. Paul says that the Galatians must choose between their slavish observance of outward ritual and a simple faith in the finished work of Jesus; and exhorts them to cast out Hagar and Ishmael, which savor of the flesh, and to give themselves to the service of the Spirit, which stands for freedom, peace, and joy in God. Let us also guard against a religious scrupulosity and subservience to the outward, and cultivate a quick sensitiveness to the Holy Spirit.” F. B. Meyer

“The Arabs, the fiery sons of the desert, through him claim descent from Abraham. They have carved their name deeply upon the history and the faith of the world. But sensuousness and lawlessness are everywhere the stamp of the Ishmaelite. With high gifts and some generous qualities, such as attracted to his eldest boy the love of Abraham, their fierce animal passion has been the curse of the sons of Hagar. Mohammedanism is a bastard Judaism; it is the religion of Abraham sensualized. Ishmael stands forth as the type of the carnal man. On outward grounds of flesh and blood he seeks inheritance in the Kingdom of God; and with fleshly weapons passionately fights its battles.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

“How the Galatians responded to the Apostle’s challenge, we do not know. But it has found an echo in many a heart since. The Lutheran Reformation was an answer to it; so was the Scottish Covenant. The spirit of Christian liberty is eternal. Jerusalem or Rome may strive to imprison it. They might as well seek to bind the winds of Heaven. Its home is with God. Its seat is the throne of Christ. It lives by the breath of His Spirit. The earthly powers mock at it, and drive it into the wilderness. They do but assure their own ruin. It leaves the house of the oppressor desolate. Whosoever he be, Judaist or Papist, priest, or king, or demagogue-that makes himself lord of God’s heritage and would despoil His children of the liberties of faith, let him beware lest of him also it be spoken, ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son.’” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…