Chapter Four
Sons and Heirs
4:1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
Paul explains how the inheritance process generally works. As long as the heir is a child they are no different to a slave, while they may have some freedoms, they do as they are told. But yet they are the owner and everything will be theirs at some point in the future until the time decided by the father. Meanwhile they are managed by guardians and supervisors until that time. As one commenter wrote, “Until he attains to the age previously stipulated by the father, he is heir de jure (by right) but not as yet de facto (in fact).”[1]
4:3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul relates that process to our relationship with God. As children we were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. The phrase “elementary principles of the world” is never fully explained anywhere by Paul, and therefore is the subject of great debate. Essentially meaning “according to the first things” Paul refers to being enslaved to these first things, implying that these principles apply to sin, the way of the world before Jesus. Then when the time was right, God sent His Son who was born of a woman (being human) and born under the law (as a Jew he had the obligation to obey and be judged by the law, but unlike everyone else He fully complied with the law), to redeem those who under the law (but not obedient to the law) so that everyone can receive adoption as children of God. And because as believers we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts so that we can cry out “Abba! Father!” Therefore we are no longer a slave, but a child, an heir through God.
Considerations
An Heir in God’s Family
It is true that all life, creation, and existence is God’s, He made it all possible, and still holds all things together (see Colossians 1:16-17). So what is Paul referring to when he wrote about being a child of God? In his epistle to the Romans he wrote, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:15-17, ESV) Just like he wrote to the Galatians that we can call on Him using the term of intimate endearment “Abba!” (similar to calling out to “Daddy!”) Paul adds that we are fellow heirs with Christ, it’s doubtful anyone knows exactly what being a co-heir to Jesus means, but it is likely beyond our comprehension anyway! But did you notice the caveat? Provided if we suffer with Him, which becomes part of who we are, in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Being a follower of Christ is not easy, nor is it without struggle or pain. We are to never take the easy way, faith without effort, never accomplishes what we are called to do by God (see James 2:14-26; Titus 3:1-11; 1 John 3:18-24).
Concern for the Galatians
4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
Paul states that previous to accepting Jesus as Savior, all believers were slaves to things that by nature are not gods (that do not exist). One example is that man has created a variety of mythological gods and goddesses that only exist in their minds. Often making idols that represent or otherwise depict a deity fashioned by human hands and then worshipped. But Paul is here not talking about myths or idols, he is referring to Jews that embraced God’s procedures outlined in the Torah as being more important than their relationship with God. Paul is saying that they were enslaved to the protocols of the law, which are not gods.
4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Now that they have come to know God, and God knows them, Paul asks how can they turn back to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, to go back to the works of the law, making them slaves to the law again. He notes that they observe the days, months, and years, a reference to God’s appointed times to potentially gain favor from Him (click here to review God’s calendar). Paul then bemoans their lack of understanding of his teaching. It’s almost as if he just sighed, as he has been to this point in his presentation very straightforward and to some degree confrontational. This approach changes with the next verse as he begins to write from a personal perspective.
4:12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
Paul lets his readers know that he is not writing these things because he is upset that they stopped listening to him, and is now following someone else’s teaching, he is not personally offended. He has done the things they are doing.
4:13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Paul reflects back to the time he first arrived and discusses some form of a “bodily ailment” that apparently was a burden to them. We are not given any details as to what Paul is talking about which opens the door to speculation. Many like to connect it to the “thorn in the flesh” he wrote about in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, but there again he does not elaborate. Others speculate he may have contacted malaria. Here he notes that the people of Galatia received him “as an angel of God” as Christ Himself. Back then Paul remembers that they would do just about anything for him, but now he asks if he has become their enemy by teaching them the truth?
4:17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Referring to the false teachers and Judaizers that have convinced them to step away from the truth, Paul tells them that they are eager to win their favor, but with the wrong intentions. They want to keep them away from Paul so that they will only learn from them. He notes that it is good to pursue good things at all times, not just when he is with them. Paul expresses that he feels that he is once again experiencing labor pains for them and those pains will continue until Christ is formed in them. And that he wishes he could be there with them to help them see the truth, but from a distance he is not sure how to proceed.
An Example of Hagar and Sarah
4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
For one to be under the law requires strict compliance to the law, even though the law was stipulated by God, it was to only be a temporary ‘placeholder’ for the One who fulfilled the law. To continue in the law after Jesus conquered the power of sin and death, would be rejecting full dependency on Jesus for salvation in favor of either adding to the work of Jesus (which is unnecessary as He completed that task) or seeking salvation through their own self-righteousness. In either scenario the focus is on oneself and not Jesus, therefore a believer has no business living under the law. Paul asks them, “do you not listen to the law?” Paul points out that they may call themselves children of Abraham but forgot that Abraham had two sons!
4:22 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 was born through promise.
Thinking perhaps they needed to “help God” the first son of Abraham came from Hagar, an Egyptian handmaiden of Sarai, Paul refers to that son of the slave (Ishmael) as being born according to the flesh (unbelief) and the son of the free woman Sarai (Isaac) was born through promise.
4:24 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.”
Paul is not suggesting that the accounts of these women and births recorded in the book of Genesis be interpreted allegorically, he is making a point for this illustration. He is saying that the two sons can represent two covenants. The son born in slavery corresponds to present-day Jerusalem being in slavery with her children, while the son born in freedom corresponds to the future Jerusalem in heaven. One leads to condemnation and the other to eternal life with Jesus. Paul notes that this will be the fulfillment of the prophecy recorded in Isaiah 54:1, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!”(Galatians 4:27, NLT) Pointing to a time when there will be more believers than Jews.
4:28 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.
Believers are children of promise and identify with Isaac, not Ishmael. Paul refers to a time when Ishmael persecuted Isaac (the Bible only records Ishmael laughing at Isaac in Genesis 21:8-9, but is believed to be a reference to laughing in mockery, as the Hebrew verb meṣǎ·ḥēq’ is a piel stem, referring to an intensive action), Paul notes that action remains true. Paul then quotes Genesis 21:10b, “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” (Galatians 4:30b, NLT, note this is a quote from Sarah, not from God). To clarify, Paul states that believers are not children of the slave, but instead of the free woman.
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[1] Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of Galatians (Vol. 8, p. 156). Baker Book House.