Galatians 4:28-31
Summary for Gal 4:28-31: 4:28-31 a Paul applies the allegory of Hagar and Sarah (4:21-27 b) to the situation in Galatia. Isaac represents those who are born through God’s promise (3:8 c) by the power of the Spirit (3:2-5 d; cp. Eph 1:13-14 e) and who trust in God for salvation through Christ by faith alone. Ishmael represents those who believe that human effort by keeping the law will make them acceptable to God (Gal 3:10-11 f). This identification would have been shocking to the Judaizers, who thought of themselves as the legitimate children of Abraham because of their insistence on law-keeping.4:29 g Ishmael persecuted Isaac, the child of the promise, at Isaac’s weaning ceremony (see Gen 21:9 h). Similarly, in Galatia, those who want you to keep the law were persecuting those who trusted in God’s promise, the message of God’s grace through faith in Christ alone (cp. Acts 13:50-51 i; 14:1-7 j).
Summary for Gal 4:30-31: 4:30-31 k Sarah’s demand regarding Ishmael, quoted from Gen 21:10 l, becomes a principle (see Gen 21:12 m) for dealing with the current son of the slave woman—anyone who refuses to abandon slavery to the law. God does not allow those who seek righteousness through human effort to share in his inheritance (see Rom 9:30-33 n). Those who come to God through Christ alone, by faith and not by keeping the law, are children of the free woman who inherit God’s blessings.
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