Galatians 4
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
It doesn't matter if a king has a son, because that son is no better than a servant until he matures enough to be a leader.
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
The same as the law was the only way until Christ, as it was the schoolmaster, where we were under that schoolmaster until Christ came and paid the price.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Without Christ, your part of the world, not able to see clearly. Know this, that laziness, ignorance or rejection isn't an excuse when He is right in front of you.
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Christ came after the law and He showed us it was possible to live in the law, but He also gave us Himself that though we fall short, we are made new through Him.
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
We are redeemed through Christ. The law holds today as it is what shows us the sins and Christ is our way to redemption.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
You're not a slave to the world once you repent and turn from your sins. It's a daily walk, a hunger for Truth.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Without God in your life you are in the bondage and the service of satan.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Why, after seeing the love and power of God, do you turn back to the world and its trappings? I see what I thought were strong people show their weakness or hate for The Truth. They will fight others in politics but give up The Truth of The Lord. Its sad to watch and it is up to them to change.
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Those that have turned from God like to focus on the worldly things.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
As with Paul, I'm afraid for you because you have rejected The Truth that has been given to you. Sad the time has been wasted on you. This is why if someone looks for a fight with The Word of God, just plant and walk away. They know where to find you if they want to know more and they know where you got your wisdom and knowledge of The Truth [IF] they hunger for it also. Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
By anyone going back to the law or the way of the world has no bearing on you. Rejecting Christ is on each of us and we ALL get what we deserve in the end.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Because Luke did much of His writing in their sigh,t Paul believed he was showing he was weak while he was preaching to them. He is showing them he is flesh like them.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Paul put his weakness behind him and did the job he was to do. Feed The Truth and they listened with open ears. Suck it up people! There is work to be done.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
When people have turned from The Truth, they went their own ways. Where is that love they once had for the Truth they had heard?
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
People will hate the things you say when they love the world. That's to bad......for them! Stay on The Path and keep planting Christians.
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
All they can do is talk about traditions and law in front of you, while knowing you follow something else. They try to put you back in the bondage of the world they're in.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
Many act like they're Christians when they know a REAL Christian is with them, but turn from God when they are not.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Spiritually they are children and Paul feels for them. They will go through pains until they grow up and understand The Way they should go. Paul feels for their pain. It's very sad to see people refuse The Truth, but don't ever let it control your emotions. They will just have to learn the hard way because of their stubbornness. You just set the example and let them figure it out.
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Paul has decided to go about reaching these with a softer tone. We should use all options that we can for those we care about. Paul had reached them before and they chose to go back to the law instead of holding to what Christ had done for them. Paul will do his best to reach out to them again.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
He is asking them if they really understand what being under the law means for them? Having The Truth and turning from it will bring trouble.
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Ishmael, through Hagar and Isaac through Sarah. Ishmael the Arabs today, while Isaac became Israel, also those offspring of Esau in Israel today.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Abraham was 100 years old with Sarah 90 and God gave them a son. This is why Isaac was a child of promise. The other a slave to the flesh = world.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
These are The Commandments and laws given on the mountain. The other covenant was God's promise to Abraham.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Hagar and all those in Jerusalem are in the bondage of the law.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
The Jerusalem to come is free. When Christ comes he brings with Him His Truth that no one can doubt. It will be as simple as possible for all to see. Notice "is above" lets you know where it is right now. As in Matthew 24 you can see what this is speaking of to come.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
This is speaking of those that hold to The Truth waiting for Christ. The one that makes desolate is satan and many that claim to be Christian will follow him when he arrives.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
When you believe in Christ and what He has done for you, repent from the heart and become new in mind, you are a child of the promise. You are born from above!
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
These take one law of God and build a religion around it, putting it in the church. They have taken away Christ and with that The Way to forgiveness.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Ishmael was receiving favorable treatment from Abraham and Sarah could see how Hagar's son was treated. She knew the promise and wasn't going to put up with anything other. You either follow the law and are held in bondage by it or you do your best to follow the law knowing Christ is your salvation because of your sins.
31 So then, brethren, we are
not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Through Sarah came Isaac and through the blood line
would come Christ. He sets us free! Upon repentance you are set free and our
Father doesn't want to hear anymore about it.