Context is important. That was said to the house of Israel which was under the law of the old covenant. That has never been said to those under the law of the new covenant, ie love. The purpose of sabbath observance was for those who didn't have the indwelling holy spirit to chill and know that God was sanctifying them. We under the new covenant have the indwelling holy spirit that witnesses every moment of every day that God is sanctifying us. So the righteousness of the law is achieved without observing letters written on paper
the Sabbath
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Here are some scripture references- just a few there are so many more
1. The Sabbath is on the seventh day Exo 20:10 The only day God gave a name.
2. We are told to keep the Sabbath day holy by ceasing all work and labors Exo 20:8-11
3. We are to cease all secular activities and focus on God, its God’s holy day, the only day He deemed holy Himself Isa 58:13
4. It is a holy convocation i.e. church gathering Lev 23:3 which we see in the life of Jesus Luke 4:16 and the apostles Acts 13:42 Acts 13:44 Acts 18:4
5. It’s a day of prayer and also getting out in nature to appreciate all that God has created for us Acts 16:3
6. A day of studying God’s Word, reasoning with God’s Word, sharing God’s Word Acts 13:44 Acts 15:21 Acts 17:2
7. Doing good is not a sin such as helping people in need or an animal
8. It about worshipping God Isa 66:23
Theres lot of ways to keep the Sabbath day holy by many examples in the scriptures, including Jesus and the apostles. The Sabbath is meant to be a delight Isa 58:13-14 spending time with God on the day He set aside, the only day He blessed and sanctified, only He can sanctify a day, only He can sanctify us Eze 20:12 we need God for everything and the Sabbath is His gift made for man Mark 2:27 at Creation Exo 20:11 so we can join ourselves with Him and He can bless us Isa 56:1-6. In the beginning man rested with God on the Sabbath in His presence, sin separated man, so now we worship Him in Spirit but once the curse is gone and no more sin, His saints will once again worship Him in His presence from one Sabbath to another for eternity, thus saith the Lord Isa 66:22-23.
1. The Sabbath is on the seventh day Exo 20:10 The only day God gave a name.
2. We are told to keep the Sabbath day holy by ceasing all work and labors Exo 20:8-11
3. We are to cease all secular activities and focus on God, its God’s holy day, the only day He deemed holy Himself Isa 58:13
4. It is a holy convocation i.e. church gathering Lev 23:3 which we see in the life of Jesus Luke 4:16 and the apostles Acts 13:42 Acts 13:44 Acts 18:4
5. It’s a day of prayer and also getting out in nature to appreciate all that God has created for us Acts 16:3
6. A day of studying God’s Word, reasoning with God’s Word, sharing God’s Word Acts 13:44 Acts 15:21 Acts 17:2
7. Doing good is not a sin such as helping people in need or an animal
8. It about worshipping God Isa 66:23
Theres lot of ways to keep the Sabbath day holy by many examples in the scriptures, including Jesus and the apostles. The Sabbath is meant to be a delight Isa 58:13-14 spending time with God on the day He set aside, the only day He blessed and sanctified, only He can sanctify a day, only He can sanctify us Eze 20:12 we need God for everything and the Sabbath is His gift made for man Mark 2:27 at Creation Exo 20:11 so we can join ourselves with Him and He can bless us Isa 56:1-6. In the beginning man rested with God on the Sabbath in His presence, sin separated man, so now we worship Him in Spirit but once the curse is gone and no more sin, His saints will once again worship Him in His presence from one Sabbath to another for eternity, thus saith the Lord Isa 66:22-23.
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this is false, Jesus sent the disciples with all his teachings to all the world the message is for all( see Matt 28, the great comission) you have no understanding of scripture and confuse people with your false assertions.
please read the first four books of the new testament carefully before making these false claims. You follow Paul not Christ and have not even understood Paul as it is written in 2 Peter 3, Paul is difficult to understand.
furthermore you have NO understanding of the covenants, you have not answered my question about the covenants because you do not know!
please read the first four books of the new testament carefully before making these false claims. You follow Paul not Christ and have not even understood Paul as it is written in 2 Peter 3, Paul is difficult to understand.
furthermore you have NO understanding of the covenants, you have not answered my question about the covenants because you do not know!
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Peter himself said the yoke of the law was an unbearable burden that neither they nor their fathers were able to bear, and James agreed judging that the gentiles were not to be troubled with observing the law
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:7-11
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Acts 15:13
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: Acts 15:19
Galatians 4
21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.b 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have never travailed;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”c
28Now you,d brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”e31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.b 23His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
24These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have never travailed;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”c
28Now you,d brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
30But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”e31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
This really should be the end of the matter. The fact that it isn't tells me that certain people are rebelling against these words
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them [gentiles] to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. Acts 15:5-7
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:10-11
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Acts 15:13
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: Acts 15:19
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Can you show using the Old Testament where the 10 commandments are called the
"moral law".
Further, can you demonstrate from the scripture exactly where ten commandments
are called "moral".
The ten commandments are not eternal and the law itself is not eternal.
It certainly is not the case that some people do not understand the scripture as you say.
Every single person on this planet struggles with the scripture and everyone will be in error
to some degree.
"moral law".
Further, can you demonstrate from the scripture exactly where ten commandments
are called "moral".
The ten commandments are not eternal and the law itself is not eternal.
It certainly is not the case that some people do not understand the scripture as you say.
Every single person on this planet struggles with the scripture and everyone will be in error
to some degree.
The book of Leviticus tells us that the law was only given to Israel.
Leviticus 26:46
These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the Lord established between Himself
and the sons of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.
You need to demonstrate from the scripture that the law was given to other nations such as Egypt.
Jesus was sent only to the Jews not the Gentiles.
Matthew 15:24
But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Don't make that mistake because many folk think Jesus came for the Jews and the Gentiles.
But that was not His mission.
Without any doubt, we know what the apostles preached to the churches.
Acts 15:19-20
Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who
are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols,
from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
No mention of the 10 commandments or even the law.
Tell me why the apostles did not take the easy path and say the ten commandments?
It would take the average person no more that a day or two to memorize the ten.
Leviticus 26:46
These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which the Lord established between Himself
and the sons of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.
You need to demonstrate from the scripture that the law was given to other nations such as Egypt.
Jesus was sent only to the Jews not the Gentiles.
Matthew 15:24
But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Don't make that mistake because many folk think Jesus came for the Jews and the Gentiles.
But that was not His mission.
Without any doubt, we know what the apostles preached to the churches.
Acts 15:19-20
Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who
are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols,
from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
No mention of the 10 commandments or even the law.
Tell me why the apostles did not take the easy path and say the ten commandments?
It would take the average person no more that a day or two to memorize the ten.
According to the scripture the Jews were the chosen people and the descendants of Abraham.
The Jews were grafted out and the Gentiles were grafted in.
Romans 9:4-5
Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and from whom
is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.
The covenants were only given to Israel and we know this from Exodus and Leviticus.
Leviticus 24:8
Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before the Lord continually; it is an everlasting covenant
for the sons of Israel.
No mention of any Sabbath day covenant made with a Gentile nation.
Why do you keep claiming the law is for everyone when the scripture tells us it was only given
to Israel?
Sin is transgression of the entire law not some small segment of the law.
The prophets also gave laws such as drunkenness which will keep you from entering the
kingdom of heaven.
Why do you ignore the scripture?
The Jews were grafted out and the Gentiles were grafted in.
Romans 9:4-5
Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and from whom
is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.
The covenants were only given to Israel and we know this from Exodus and Leviticus.
Leviticus 24:8
Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before the Lord continually; it is an everlasting covenant
for the sons of Israel.
No mention of any Sabbath day covenant made with a Gentile nation.
Why do you keep claiming the law is for everyone when the scripture tells us it was only given
to Israel?
Sin is transgression of the entire law not some small segment of the law.
The prophets also gave laws such as drunkenness which will keep you from entering the
kingdom of heaven.
Why do you ignore the scripture?
You asked me to show you that Paul is talking to the Jews in Romans 3.
Romans 3:1
Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
Romans 3:9
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.
Who are the people identified by "they"?
The Gentiles of course.
Romans 3:29-30
God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will
justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Were the Gentiles circumcised?
I do not expect that many folk would realize that Paul is discussing the Jews and talking
directly to them in Romans. Especially not Adventists.
Romans 3:1
Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
Romans 3:9
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.
Who are the people identified by "they"?
The Gentiles of course.
Romans 3:29-30
God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will
justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Were the Gentiles circumcised?
I do not expect that many folk would realize that Paul is discussing the Jews and talking
directly to them in Romans. Especially not Adventists.
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I am asking you what it means and how it relates to what Paul is trying to teach. If you can’t explain it, then you have no idea. Paul is not easy to understand so we need to really study what he is saying comparing scripture to scripture and he made a direct reference if you are going to quote it you should understand what he is referring to.
First i want you to know I do not like to say to people they are wrong, in fact I detest it, but I cannot leave someone follow something that is wrong. please take the time to read what I wrote and do verify everything in your bible.
you lecture people on the importance context and yourself do not consider it, Below is the whole story with the proper context from Acts 15, I have Put in bold some important elements for comprehensions;
The elements being a burden were part of the law given by Moses, the 10 commandments are also considered the law of Moses but are different because :
1- the 10 Commandments were written by the finger of GOD directly on the tablets of stone.
2- these tablets were later put inside the ""ARK OF THE COVENANT" the 10 commandments are the contents of the COVENANT between Man end GOD! the rest of the law of Moses was put on the side of the ark, they were added later because the israelites disobeyed GOD
NOTE : the 10 commandments are the covenant
Deu 4:13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandmentst hat He wrote on two tablets of stone.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Now to clarify and see proper context;
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. ( they were talking mostly about circumcision)
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. ( The pharisees, here again cause trouble and wanted the gentiles to keep the whole law of Moses which they did not know being gentiles also also because many elements of this law, ordinances, sacrificial rites were no longer necessary)
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and fromthings strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
There is more in Acts 15 but i will keep this short for now. Remember to have proper context whitous which proper understanding could be lost and wrongful assumptions could take hold.
they were discussing here some parts of the law of Moses but not the 10 commandments.
you lecture people on the importance context and yourself do not consider it, Below is the whole story with the proper context from Acts 15, I have Put in bold some important elements for comprehensions;
The elements being a burden were part of the law given by Moses, the 10 commandments are also considered the law of Moses but are different because :
1- the 10 Commandments were written by the finger of GOD directly on the tablets of stone.
2- these tablets were later put inside the ""ARK OF THE COVENANT" the 10 commandments are the contents of the COVENANT between Man end GOD! the rest of the law of Moses was put on the side of the ark, they were added later because the israelites disobeyed GOD
NOTE : the 10 commandments are the covenant
Deu 4:13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to follow—the Ten Commandmentst hat He wrote on two tablets of stone.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Now to clarify and see proper context;
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. ( they were talking mostly about circumcision)
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. ( The pharisees, here again cause trouble and wanted the gentiles to keep the whole law of Moses which they did not know being gentiles also also because many elements of this law, ordinances, sacrificial rites were no longer necessary)
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and fromthings strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
There is more in Acts 15 but i will keep this short for now. Remember to have proper context whitous which proper understanding could be lost and wrongful assumptions could take hold.
they were discussing here some parts of the law of Moses but not the 10 commandments.
Since you insist, I refer you to an older commentary by Walvord:
a. The historical facts (4:21-23)
4:21. The Galatians had not yet submitted to the bondage of the Law but they desired to. Paul desperately wanted to stop them and turn them back to a life under grace. As a transition to what would immediately follow, he challenged the Galatians to be aware of or to understand what the Law really said.
4:22. By turning again to Abraham (Gen., as one of the Books of Moses, was considered a part of the Law) Paul was appealing to the founder of the Jewish nation from whose physical descent the Jews traced their blessings. John the Baptist and Jesus declared that physical descent from Abraham was not enough, however, to guarantee spiritual blessing (cf. Mt 3:9; Jn 8:37-44). Paul reminded his readers that Abraham had two sons (those born later are not important to his illustration), and that they should consider which of the two they were most like. One son, Isaac, was born of Sarah, the free woman; the other, Ishmael, was born of Hagar, the slave woman. According to ancient law and custom the status of a mother affected the status of her son.
4:23. A second contrast concerned the manner in which the sons were conceived. Ishmael was born in the ordinary way, that is, in the course of nature and requiring no miracle and no promise of God. Isaac, on the other hand, was born as the result of a promise. Abraham and Sarah were beyond the age of childbearing, but God miraculously fulfilled His promise in bringing life out of the deadness of Sarah's womb (cf. Ro 4:18-21).
In order to emphasize the contrast between Law and grace Paul next used the historical events above as an allegory, that is, he treated those two mothers figuratively (allēgoroumena). He did not in any sense deny the literal meaning of the story of Abraham, but he declared that that story, especially the matters relating to the conception of the two sons, had an additional meaning. Thus he compared the narrative to the conflict between Judaism and Christianity.
(This “allegorizing” is a far cry from the practice of “allegorical interpretation”—followed by Origen, Augustine, and many others down through the ages and into the present day—in which the historical facts are relegated to a lower, less significant level and fanciful, hidden meanings unrelated to the text, are considered vastly more important.)
4:24. First, the apostle pointed to two covenants. One, the Mosaic, had its origin at Mount Sinai. Those under this legal covenant were slaves. As Hagar brought forth a slave, so does the Law. At this point the reader is expected to understand and supply the implicit reference to the Abrahamic Covenant, a gracious system represented by Sarah which through its messianic promise brought forth children who are free.
4:25-26. Next, Paul pointed to two Jerusalems. Hagar also stood for the first-century city of Jerusalem, a city enslaved to Rome and in slavery to the Law. Sarah, on the other hand, corresponded to the Jerusalem… above, the mother of all the children of grace. This heavenly city, which one day will come to earth (cf. Rev 21:2), is now the “city of the living God” (cf. Heb 12:22), the home of departed believers of all ages.
4:27. The quotation from Isa 54:1 prophesied the changing fortunes of Israel, which Paul applied to Sarah's history. Israel before her Babylonian Captivity was likened to a woman with a husband. The barren woman was Israel in Captivity. The woman bearing more… children may have pictured Israel restored to the land after the Exile, but more particularly it portrays her millennial blessings. Paul applied this passage (he did not claim it was fulfilled) in this context to Sarah, who though previously barren, was later blessed with a child, and who would ultimately enjoy a greater progeny than Hagar.
In applying the truth from the biblical illustration, Paul made three comparisons.
4:28. First, Paul compared the birth of Isaac to that of Christians. As “Isaac” experienced a supernatural birth and was a child by means of a promise, so each believer experiences a supernatural birth (Jn 3:3,5) and is a recipient of the promise of salvation (Ga 3:9,22,29). As children of promise Christians are in a distinct category and should not live as children of bondage.
4:29. Second, the apostle compared Ishmael's persecution of Isaac to the false teachers' opposition to believers. Abraham celebrated the weaning of Isaac with a banquet. On that occasion Ishmael mocked Isaac, laughing derisively at the younger boy, since Ishmael was the elder son and assumed he would be heir to his father's estate (cf. Ge 21:8-9). That early animosity has been perpetuated in the two peoples which descended from the two sons of Abraham and is seen in the current Arab-Israel tensions. Paul likened the Judaizers to Ishmael as those who were born out of legalistic self-effort; he charged that they continued to persecute the true believers who were born by the power of the Spirit. With few exceptions Paul's persecution came from the Jews, the people in bondage to the Law.
4:30. Third, Paul compared the action of Abraham to the obligation of the Galatians. When Sarah observed Ishmael mocking Isaac, she asked Abraham to expel the slave woman and her son lest Ishmael become a joint heir with Isaac. And God granted Sarah's request (cf. Ge 21:10,12). This reminded the readers that Law observance brought no inheritance in the family of God, and it also charged them to excommunicate the Judaizers and those who accepted their false doctrines. A fundamental incompatibility remains between Law and grace, between a religion based on works and a religion based on faith.
4:31. In conclusion, Paul affirmed that he and the Galatian believers were not children of the slave woman who was driven away and was denied a share in the inheritance. Rather all believers are children of the free woman, “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Ro 8:17).
a. The historical facts (4:21-23)
4:21. The Galatians had not yet submitted to the bondage of the Law but they desired to. Paul desperately wanted to stop them and turn them back to a life under grace. As a transition to what would immediately follow, he challenged the Galatians to be aware of or to understand what the Law really said.
4:22. By turning again to Abraham (Gen., as one of the Books of Moses, was considered a part of the Law) Paul was appealing to the founder of the Jewish nation from whose physical descent the Jews traced their blessings. John the Baptist and Jesus declared that physical descent from Abraham was not enough, however, to guarantee spiritual blessing (cf. Mt 3:9; Jn 8:37-44). Paul reminded his readers that Abraham had two sons (those born later are not important to his illustration), and that they should consider which of the two they were most like. One son, Isaac, was born of Sarah, the free woman; the other, Ishmael, was born of Hagar, the slave woman. According to ancient law and custom the status of a mother affected the status of her son.
4:23. A second contrast concerned the manner in which the sons were conceived. Ishmael was born in the ordinary way, that is, in the course of nature and requiring no miracle and no promise of God. Isaac, on the other hand, was born as the result of a promise. Abraham and Sarah were beyond the age of childbearing, but God miraculously fulfilled His promise in bringing life out of the deadness of Sarah's womb (cf. Ro 4:18-21).
In order to emphasize the contrast between Law and grace Paul next used the historical events above as an allegory, that is, he treated those two mothers figuratively (allēgoroumena). He did not in any sense deny the literal meaning of the story of Abraham, but he declared that that story, especially the matters relating to the conception of the two sons, had an additional meaning. Thus he compared the narrative to the conflict between Judaism and Christianity.
(This “allegorizing” is a far cry from the practice of “allegorical interpretation”—followed by Origen, Augustine, and many others down through the ages and into the present day—in which the historical facts are relegated to a lower, less significant level and fanciful, hidden meanings unrelated to the text, are considered vastly more important.)
4:24. First, the apostle pointed to two covenants. One, the Mosaic, had its origin at Mount Sinai. Those under this legal covenant were slaves. As Hagar brought forth a slave, so does the Law. At this point the reader is expected to understand and supply the implicit reference to the Abrahamic Covenant, a gracious system represented by Sarah which through its messianic promise brought forth children who are free.
4:25-26. Next, Paul pointed to two Jerusalems. Hagar also stood for the first-century city of Jerusalem, a city enslaved to Rome and in slavery to the Law. Sarah, on the other hand, corresponded to the Jerusalem… above, the mother of all the children of grace. This heavenly city, which one day will come to earth (cf. Rev 21:2), is now the “city of the living God” (cf. Heb 12:22), the home of departed believers of all ages.
4:27. The quotation from Isa 54:1 prophesied the changing fortunes of Israel, which Paul applied to Sarah's history. Israel before her Babylonian Captivity was likened to a woman with a husband. The barren woman was Israel in Captivity. The woman bearing more… children may have pictured Israel restored to the land after the Exile, but more particularly it portrays her millennial blessings. Paul applied this passage (he did not claim it was fulfilled) in this context to Sarah, who though previously barren, was later blessed with a child, and who would ultimately enjoy a greater progeny than Hagar.
In applying the truth from the biblical illustration, Paul made three comparisons.
4:28. First, Paul compared the birth of Isaac to that of Christians. As “Isaac” experienced a supernatural birth and was a child by means of a promise, so each believer experiences a supernatural birth (Jn 3:3,5) and is a recipient of the promise of salvation (Ga 3:9,22,29). As children of promise Christians are in a distinct category and should not live as children of bondage.
4:29. Second, the apostle compared Ishmael's persecution of Isaac to the false teachers' opposition to believers. Abraham celebrated the weaning of Isaac with a banquet. On that occasion Ishmael mocked Isaac, laughing derisively at the younger boy, since Ishmael was the elder son and assumed he would be heir to his father's estate (cf. Ge 21:8-9). That early animosity has been perpetuated in the two peoples which descended from the two sons of Abraham and is seen in the current Arab-Israel tensions. Paul likened the Judaizers to Ishmael as those who were born out of legalistic self-effort; he charged that they continued to persecute the true believers who were born by the power of the Spirit. With few exceptions Paul's persecution came from the Jews, the people in bondage to the Law.
4:30. Third, Paul compared the action of Abraham to the obligation of the Galatians. When Sarah observed Ishmael mocking Isaac, she asked Abraham to expel the slave woman and her son lest Ishmael become a joint heir with Isaac. And God granted Sarah's request (cf. Ge 21:10,12). This reminded the readers that Law observance brought no inheritance in the family of God, and it also charged them to excommunicate the Judaizers and those who accepted their false doctrines. A fundamental incompatibility remains between Law and grace, between a religion based on works and a religion based on faith.
4:31. In conclusion, Paul affirmed that he and the Galatian believers were not children of the slave woman who was driven away and was denied a share in the inheritance. Rather all believers are children of the free woman, “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Ro 8:17).