… brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
—Galatians 4:31
Though this morning’s sermon text seems a bit obscure, Paul points us to a glorious truth here at the end of chapter 4: that we are Abraham’s children, and that as his rightful heirs we are called to freedom rather than bondage. Today we’ll sing several hymns which use the imagery of identity and home. We are named the “Chosen Seed And Zion’s Children” in the hymn of the same name. In Psalm 50, the Lord declares that He will gather His saints to Himself in covenant (The Mighty God, The Lord—Psalm 50). The love of Jesus leads us “homeward” (O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus), the heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26) is our “happy home” (Jerusalem, My Happy Home), and the redemption purchased by Jesus’ victory enables us to sing the “songs of peaceful Zion” (Alleluia! Sing To Jesus!). Since God has done such a tremendous work of setting us free, calling us His children, and bringing us to an eternal home, we can truly say with the psalmist: “O sing a new song to the Lord, for wonders He has done.” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Law, Sons, Slavery, Allegorically, Promise, Persecuted
Keystone Verse: Now you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. (Galatians 4:28)
Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 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 as born through promise. 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.” 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.