Digging Deeper into Galatians Chapter 4c v.21-31

Abraham's Two 'Covenants'.

4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

✦ Verse-by-verse comments

✦ Verse 21: “Do you not listen to the law?”

Paul’s challenge: He is speaking directly to those who want to follow the Mosaic Law, asking if they truly understand what it teaches.

Irony: They are appealing to the law for righteousness, but Paul will use the law itself to show that it leads to slavery—not freedom.

✦ Verse 22: “Abraham had two sons…”

Historical setup: Paul references Genesis—Abraham’s sons Ishmael (one by Hagar, the slave) and the other Isaac (by Sarah, the free woman).

Symbolic contrast: These two sons represent two radically different spiritual realities.

✦ Verse 23: “Born according to the flesh… through promise”. Born according to flesh vs promise.

Ishmael: Born through human effort—Abraham and Sarah’s attempt to fulfil God’s promise on their own terms.

Isaac: Born miraculously, as a fulfilment of God’s promise—representing grace and divine initiative.

✦Verse 24: “Interpreted allegorically… two covenants”.

Allegory: Paul uses the story symbolically to represent two covenants:

Hagar = Old Covenant (law from Mount Sinai), leading to slavery.

Sarah = New Covenant (promise), leading to freedom.

Bold move: Paul reinterprets a foundational Jewish story to support the gospel of grace.

✦ Verse 25: “Hagar is Mount Sinai… present Jerusalem”.

Geographical and spiritual link: Hagar is tied to Mount Sinai (where the law was given) and to “present Jerusalem”—the centre of Jewish legalism.

Slavery theme: Those clinging to the law are spiritually enslaved, just like Hagar and her descendants.

✦ Verse 26: “Jerusalem above is free… our mother”.

Heavenly Jerusalem: Represents the spiritual realm of grace, freedom, and promise.

“Our mother”: Paul identifies believers with Sarah and the heavenly Jerusalem—not with the earthly system of law.

 Insights

Paul’s allegory is radical. He is saying that those who rely on law are spiritual descendants of Hagar, while those who live by faith are children of Sarah—heirs of the promise. It is a call to reject self-effort and embrace divine grace.

Verse 27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labour!

For the desolate has many more children

Then she who has a husband.”

✦Verse 27: “Rejoice, O barren one…”

Isaiah 54:1 is quoted: Paul uses this prophecy to show that God's promise brings life where there was none.

“Barren” = Sarah: Though she was childless for years, she became the mother of the promised child.

Spiritual meaning: The gospel brings fruitfulness to those who were once spiritually barren—the Gentiles included.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

✦ Verse 28: “You… are children of promise”.

Identity shift: Paul affirms that believers, like Isaac, are born not of human effort but of divine promise.

Encouragement: This is a reminder of their spiritual heritage—they are heirs, not outsiders.

✦ Verse 29: “He… persecuted him”.

Historical echo: Ishmael mocked Isaac (Genesis 21:9), symbolizing how those born of the flesh oppose those born of the Spirit.

Present-day parallel: Paul sees the Judaizers as spiritual Ishmaels—persecuting grace-filled believers by pushing legalism.

✦ Verse 30: “Cast out the slave woman…”

Genesis 21:10 quoted: Sarah demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away so Isaac could inherit alone.

Spiritual application: Paul uses this to say that law and grace cannot coexist as paths to salvation. The law must be “cast out.”

✦ Verse 31: “We are not children of the slave…”

Final declaration: Paul closes the allegory by reaffirming that believers are the free children of Sarah, not Hagar.

Freedom in Christ: This sets the stage for Galatians Chapter 5, where Paul will urge them to stand firm in that freedom.

Insights

Paul’s use of allegory is bold and deeply symbolic. He is not just retelling history—he is redefining identity. His message is clear: salvation is by promise, not performance. The children of the promise live by faith, not by law.

Amen

Personal Prayer

Materials consulted

R L Solberg Galatians Lessons 1-5 YouTube.

David Pawson Unlocking the Bible Galatians Part 1 and 2.