Galatians
4:17-31: “The Stories Of Ishmael And Isaac Are Allegories Of The
Covenants of Law And Grace”
By
1.
In our last
study, we looked at verses 1-16 of chapter 4.
1.1.
We saw the
apostle Paul was continuing to build his case about how that it is not God’s
intention for the believer in Christ to continue keeping the Law of Moses in
addition to having faith in Christ, in order to be saved. We saw that The Pulpit Commentary says the
following about the apostle Paul’s argument here about the ramification of the
believer’s sonship with God through Christ:
“The apostle now passes to a new phase of argument. He has used the similitudes of a testament, a
prison, a schoolmaster, to mark the condition of believers under the Law’; now he uses the similitude of an heir in his
nonage. The Galatians are here taught
that the state of men under the Law, so far from being an advanced religious
position, was rather low and infantile.”
1.2.
We also saw in
that study, that Paul used the state of being a child as being likened to being
a slave, as the Law enslaved us and was our tutor and guardian at that time
when we were under the Law. We saw that
the limitations on a child are similar to those of a slave, and that to grow up
and out of childhood is like transitioning from being under the Law of Moses to
being under the covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. We mentioned that one certainly does not want
to go back to being a child after having come of age as an adult.
1.3.
We talked about
how it was in God’s perfect timing that God sent His Son to redeem us.
1.4.
We saw that Paul
discussed how that the new covenant has brought us to become adopted sons of
God, and if sons then we are heirs also.
Paul discussed some of the ramifications of sonship in the lives of
believers.
1.5.
Paul asked the
Galatians how it is that they could go back to what he calls the elementary or
rudimentary aspects of living under the Law of Moses, after having grown up and
out of it into the paradigm of the new covenant of the grace of Christ.
1.6.
Paul finally let
the Galatians know that the things that he has said to them, and the hard line
that he has drawn, are not the result of him being personally offended in any
way by them.
2.
In our study
today, we are going to look at verses 17-31 of chapter 4.
2.1.
Paul is here
going to continue his argument of showing that the believer in Christ is not to
continue keeping the Law of Moses in order to be saved, by revealing that the
stories of Ishmael and Isaac, are allegories of the two covenants of Law and of
grace through Jesus Christ.
2.2.
We will see how
that God provided us a pictorial representation of these two covenants through these
two men, Ishmael and Isaac, and their mothers, one (Hagar) who was a slave and
the other (Sarah) who was a free woman.
2.3.
Paul will
conclude that the two covenants cannot coexist, just as Ishmael could not
continue in the house of Isaac as an heir, but rather he and his mother had to
be cast out of the house.
2.4.
We will discuss
the fact that it is always the sons of the law (legalists) who persecute the
sons of grace.
3.
VS 4:17 - “17 They eagerly seek you, not
commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.” – Paul tells the Galatians that the Judaiser teachers sought them out
but not commendably but rather in order to shut them out and cause them to seek
them (the teachers) only
3.1.
Here in this verse we get a glimpse into the methods and motives of the
Judaisers who were teaching that in addition to faith in Christ that a person
has to keep the Law of Moses. Really
this is the motive and method of all cult and cultic leaders, of all false
teachers.
3.2.
The method that Paul writes that the false teaching Judaisers used was
that they, ‘seek you’, and they do this ‘not commendably’. This shows that these false teachers would go
out of their way to woo people into their group. False teachers act almost like a guy trying
to win a woman’s love who sends her gifts of flowers, cards, jewelry, etc. But, then after the guy has made the conquest
of a woman, and let’s say she marries him, then his real personality and
character begin to come out, and he will be mean, self-centered, self-seeking,
etc. I have known a few women who have
told me about how their husband had initially swept them off of their feet and
treated them like a queen, and, convinced them of the importance of have a good
Christian home and being a good testimony and witness for Christ. Then, after their marriage, the man began to
treat them badly, and show no interest in seeking God or going to church, etc. Then, the woman suddenly realized that their
husband’s actions during the courting process was all just a big act, a big
conquest, kind of like a Safari hunt.
False teachers will flatter and dote over a prospective convert, but as
soon as the conquest has been made and they have the convert then they begin to
lord it over the one under their teaching and charge.
3.3.
Paul says here that the Judaiser’s ‘wish to shut you out so that you
will seek them’, and this refers to the false teachers who befriend people
and then begin to fill the people’s minds with doubts about their previous
church and pastor, and as the person embraces the false teaching they tell them
that they should no longer worship at their previous church because that church
and pastor doesn’t really have everything down right. Thus, they are “shutting out” (or isolating)
the person from fellowship with the body of Christ.
4.
VS 4:18-20a - “18 But it is good always to be
eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with
you. 19 My children, with whom I
am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to
change my tone,.” – Paul tells the Galatians that it is always good
to be sought for in a commendable manner, then he goes on to tell them that
they are his little children and that he is in labor until Christ is formed
within them, and, he wished that he could be with them in person so that he
could change his tone in addressing them
4.1.
Paul says to the Galatians here that it is ‘good always’ when
someone seeks you in ‘a commendable manner’, and in saying this he is
speaking of his own love and care for the Galatian believers.
4.2.
Paul’s love and care for the Galatians was commendable because he truly
desired what was best for them, and his reaching out to them was not an act nor
would his love and care for them ever diminish (or be ‘not only when I am
present with you’). He would not be
one way when courting them and then another way after they had accepted his
admonitions and teaching.
4.3.
Paul had preached the gospel to the Galatians and thus he calls them ‘my
children’.
4.4.
As a spiritual parent to the Galatians, Paul tells the Galatians that
he felt like he was a woman who was ‘in labor’ wanting to give birth, as
he struggled in his heart and affections for them until the character of Christ
was ‘formed’ in them.
4.5.
It is hard to write confrontational letters where a person cannot see
you face and expressions, nor you there’s.
There is such a tendency also to read in things to what people write to
you, especially when what they write is an admonition or rebuke. Paul knew he had been very direct and
confrontational with the Galatians, and he worried that they would not also
realize how much he loved them. He knew
if he was there in person with the church that he could “change his tone”
and speak more to them as friends and family members instead of using such a
confrontational tone as is in his letter.
He hoped that they could see through his words his heart of love and
yearning for them as a parent longing and yearning for the well-being of their
child.
5.
VS 4:20b-26 - “…for I am perplexed about you 21 Tell me, you who want to
be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one
by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to
the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women
are two covenants: one proceeding from
5.1.
To the apostle
Paul, the Galatians were like what Winston Churchill referred to the Russians
in a 1939 radio broadcast: “…a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” Paul says here ‘I
am perplexed about you’.
5.2.
Paul asks the
Galatians if those who ‘want to be under the law’, whether or not they ‘listen
to the law’? Then, he goes on to
tell how a story found in Genesis in the Penteteuk (the book of Genesis
specifically) provides an allegorical illustration regarding the two different
covenants of law and grace.
5.3.
There are certain
stories in the Old Testament which God is His providence allowed or designed
such that they illustrate truth that is taught and expounded upon in the New
Testament, and thus they have allegorical value. Typically, when interpreting scripture you
want to first interpret it literally.
However, there are some places in scripture, such as these verses before
us, where we are told that an allegory is being taught or revealed. Here we see that the stories of Hagar and her
son Ishmael are an allegorical representation of the Sinaitic covenant of Law,
whereas in contrast the stories of Sarah and Isaac are an allegorical
representation of the covenant of grace through Jesus Christ, the new covenant
of the New Testament.
5.4.
Some have
believed that the word ‘Sinai’ was actually pronounced ‘Hagar’ in
that day. John Gill's Bible Commentary states the following about this:
“The Arabic version, instead of
5.5.
‘Hagar’ was a “Handmaid” of Sarah’s, and therefore
she is referred to here as a ‘bondwoman’, or “slave.” Sarah is never referred to in the scripture
as being a “freewoman.” However,
if one was not a slave then he/she is to be considered a ‘free’ person.
5.6.
So, the fact that
Hagar and her son are slaves, intimates that the covenant of law which she
symbolizes allegorically, is one of enslavement. Likewise, the fact that Sarah and her son are
free, and the result of God’s promise, intimates that the covenant of grace
through Jesus Christ is one of freedom.
5.7.
Just as Hagar and
her son, Ishmael, symbolize the very earthly Mount Sinai, so also Sarah and her
son, Isaac, symbolize the heavenly
5.8.
The covenant of
law is one that is fleshly (carried out in the power of the flesh) just as
Ishmael came about as a result of the scheming of Abraham and Sarah to
accomplish God’s will through their own cleverness, and the covenant of grace
is one that is of the Spirit and came about because of God’s promise to Abraham
and Sarah and through their faith.
6.
VS 4:27 - “27 For it is written, “Rejoice, barren
woman who does not bear; Break
forth and shout, you who are not
in labor; For more numerous are the
children of the desolate Than of
the one who has a husband.”” – Paul tells the Galatians
that those who are in labor ought to rejoice and those who are not in labor to
break forth and shout, for those are more numerous who are of the desolate than
of the one who has a husband
6.1.
Here in this verse, Paul quotes from Isaiah chapter 54, the chapter
right after chapter 53 in which is the pinnacle of Biblical prophesy in the Old
Testament as it so reveals the work of the Messiah to come who will come and
take our iniquities and sins upon Himself:
Isaiah
54:1-10: “1 Shout for joy, O barren
one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and
cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will
be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the
curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your
pegs. 3 “For you will spread
abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations
And will resettle the desolate cities. 4 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And
do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the
shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no
more. 5 “For your husband is your
Maker, Whose name is the Lord of
hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of
6.2.
In this passage quoted from Isaiah chapter 54, note that it is a “Blessing
Pronounced Upon Zion”:
6.2.1. The people are admonished to
enlarge the place of their tents because they will spread to the right and to
the left (this will be after all
6.2.2. The people will be honored
and exalted above the nations (during the Millennial Reign of Christ).
6.2.3. The people will forever have
their shame, disgrace, and humiliation removed.
6.2.4. God will establish a “covenant
of peace” with them which shall last forever and nothing and no one shall
harm them again (the new covenant of grace through the cross of Jesus Christ).
6.2.5. Their sons will all come to
know the Lord (personal relationship with Christ) .
6.3.
So, what Paul is telling the Galatians then is that it is intended that
the sons of Isaac be much greater in number than the sons of Hagar, the sons of
the covenant of grace are to be much greater in number than the sons of
law-keeping.
7.
VS 4:28-29 - “28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are
children of promise. 29 But as at that time he
who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according
to the Spirit, so it is now also.” – Paul tells the Galatian
brethren that like Isaac they too are children of promise, but just as it
happened to Isaac, so too the ones born according to the flesh persecute the
ones born according to the Spirit
7.1.
The story that is
brought to the minds of the Galatians here is the incident that occurred when
Isaac was being weaned. Ishmael and his
mother Hagar, the bondwoman, had lived in the same house with Abraham and
Sarah. For many years it was assumed by
them that Ishmael would be the heir of Abraham and the promises God had made to
him. Abraham himself loved Ishmael and
tried to provide all that he needed.
Finally, the Lord brought about the son of promise when Sarah conceived
and brought forth Isaac. Then, at that
party to celebrate the weaning of Isaac, Ishmael did something to make fun of
and persecute Isaac. This bothered Sarah
so much that she convinced Abraham that the bondwoman had to be cast out, and
as a result Abraham forced Hagar and Ishmael out of his house forever.
7.2.
Paul reminds the
Galatians that just as happened with Ishmael making fun of Isaac and
persecuting Isaac, it was the Jews (and Judaisers) who had been following him
around wherever he went, seeking to persecute him and everyone who was coming
into the church. Paul wants the
Galatians to consider that it was these very teachers they were aligning
themselves with who had tried to stop him and the work of the church, and, who
had caused Paul great personal harm and injury in beatings, stonings,
whippings, etc.
7.3.
The greater
application here is that it is always the legalists who persecute those who
walk in the grace of God and by the power of the Spirit. And, have you ever noticed that it always the
Naziis and Pharisees who are more aggressive and on the attack, and they tend
to win every battle and argument because they care more. But, just because they win the arguments it
doesn’t mean that they are right.
8.
VS 4:30-31 - “30 But what does the Scripture say?
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For the son of the bondwoman shall not be
an heir with the son of the free woman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a
bondwoman, but of the free woman.” – Paul tells the Galatians
that the scripture says that you are to cast out the bondwoman, for the
bondwoman and the freewoman are not mutual heirs, but they (the Galatians), are
the sons of the free woman
8.1.
Paul reveals to
the Galatians through this allegory regarding Ishmael and Isaac, the sons of
Abraham, that just as Hagar and her son Ishmael had to be cast out of Abraham’s
house, so also those in the church who are of the law, and trying to please God
through the keeping of the Law of Moses, must also be cast out of the church.
8.2.
Paul indicates to
the Galatians here that it can never be God’s will for Judaism and Christianity
to coexist, you can’t walk in grace and by the power of the Spirit, and also
walk as a legalist and law-keeper. They are
two mutually exclusive paradigms of spirituality and worship, two different
religions in essence.
8.3.
Finally, Paul
tells the Galatians that we in the church are ‘not children of the bondwoman’. Rather, we are children ‘of the free woman’,
children of promise, children of the heavenly
9.
CONCLUSIONS:
9.1.
.