Oct 12, 2020
Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you
not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham
had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free
woman.23 But the son of the slave was born according to
the flesh, while the son of the free woman as born through promise.
24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these
women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children
for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai
in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in
slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is
free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry
aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate
one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of
promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born
according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the
Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the
Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son
of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free
woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the
slave but of the free woman.
… brothers, we are not children
of the slave but of the free woman.
—Galatians 4:31
Though this morning’s sermon text seems a bit obscure, Paul points us to a glorious truth here at the end of chapter 4: that we are Abraham’s children, and that as his rightful heirs we are called to freedom rather than bondage. Today we’ll sing several hymns which use the imagery of identity and home. We are named the “Chosen Seed And Zion’s Children” in the hymn of the same name. In Psalm 50, the Lord declares that He will gather His saints to Himself in covenant (The Mighty God, The Lord—Psalm 50). The love of Jesus leads us “homeward” (O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus), the heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26) is our “happy home” (Jerusalem, My Happy Home), and the redemption purchased by Jesus’ victory enables us to sing the “songs of peaceful Zion” (Alleluia! Sing To Jesus!). Since God has done such a tremendous work of setting us free, calling us His children, and bringing us to an eternal home, we can truly say with the psalmist: “O sing a new song to the Lord, for wonders He has done.” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Law, Sons, Slavery, Allegorically,
Promise, Persecuted
Keystone Verse: Now you brothers, like Isaac, are
children of promise. (Galatians 4:28)