Brit Chadasha Foundations-Concepts in Galatians-Chapter 4

Gal 4.1-31 tells us that there is one inheritance for all who believe and that redemption cannot come by keeping the Torah, or the ritual circumcision of Beit Shammai; Paul will discuss the topic of an heir to put the commandments in their proper role.

v 1… Now I say as long as the heir is a child (untaught, unskilled or immature); he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything.

v 2…But he is under guardians and trustees (see comments on 3.24-25) until the date set by the father (he is ready to receive his inheritance; when he acknowledged his son as heir).

v 3… So also we, while we were children (untaught, unskilled or immature in the things of God; the Torah “watches” over his people as a “tutor” until the heir appeared) were held in bondage under the elementary things of the world (the Olam Ha Zeh; those things devised by man, customs and traditions, works of outward earthly things-2 Pet 3.10).

v 4… But when the fullness of time came (the time appointed for Messiah to come in the flesh), God sent forth his son (Isa 7.14), born of a woman born under the law (the tutor; but he never broke it like we did)

v 5… in order that he might redeem those who were under the law (because it could never save us, the Torah does not deal with redemption, that is the role of the Messiah; we sinned and the judicial aspect of the Torah condemned us) that we might receive the adoption as sons (the obstacle of sin and guilt have been removed=redeemed)

v 6… and because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit (attitude, desire-Jer 31.31-34) of his son into our hearts crying “Abba, Father!”

v 7… Therefore you are no longer a slave (to the world in the Olam Ha Zeh) but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

v 8… However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves (to the world; un-regenerated) to those which by nature are no gods (but demons; pagan practices they had).

v 9… But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things to which you desire to be enslaved all over again (this is referring to all the man-made customs, works and pagan traditions that they followed, the works of man. This can’t be the Torah because they were Gentiles and they couldn’t have been “enslaved” to the Torah before because they never knew about it, so how could they go back? This is talking about the outward, earthly things they did before salvation-see 2 Pet 3.10)?

v 10… You observe days and months and seasons and years (what Paul may be referring to here is the additional Jewish festivals, holy days, and fasts in the oral law not commanded by God.  Some of these include Chanukah, Purim, the fasts listed in Zech 8, the fast of Esther, the feasts of Acra and Nicanor, the feast of wood-carrying, the new year of trees and other “new year” days in the oral Torah, and semi-public fasts on Monday and Thursday.  It was these additions he was alluding to, not what was written in the Torah).

v 11… I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain (The School of Shammai was gaining ground with them and he was afraid he may have wasted his time there).

v 12… I beg of you, brethren, become as I am (he was not saying that they should be free from following the Torah, because he was Torah observant), for I also was as you are (seeking righteousness by works). You have done me no wrong (but to God you have);

v 13… but you know that it was because of an infirmity of the flesh (he probably had an eye disorder called Ophthalmia) that I preached the gospel to you the first time

v 14… and that which was a trial to you in my flesh (they were being tested to see if they would respond to his need) you did not despise or loathe (it was uncomfortable for them to look on Paul), but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.

v 15…Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness, that if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

v 16… Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth (that works of any kind, whether they are God’s commandments or the commandments of men, cannot earn them any righteousness with God. Even our good works are as filthy rags to God if we think they can earn us righteousness)?

v 17… They (the Judaizers from the School of Shammai) eagerly seek you, not commendably (they did not want them as God-fearers, the School of Shammai already believed that God-fearers were not accepted as having a place in the world to come. What they wanted was for them to convert to their brand of Judaism, to desire their beliefs over all others and accept ritual circumcision), they wish to shut you out (from the beliefs of others and seek only their beliefs, and to certainly ignore what Paul taught them. Remember, he was from their bitter rivals camp, the School of Hillel) in order that you may seek them (be on their side).

v 18…But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner and not only when I am present with you (you sought me when I was there but it shouldn’t weaken when I am gone).

v 19… My children (he led them to faith in Yeshua and a Torah lifestyle, so he is their “father” in a spiritual sense) with whom I am in labor until Christ is formed in you (in concern on how they will turn out; if their lives will be a reflection of Yeshua)

v 20… but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

v 21…Tell me, you who want to be under law (for righteousness; no “the” before law here, they had not totally embraced the idea of observing Torah for salvation yet, but they were close. If they wanted to do that, he was going to now give them something to think about from the Torah itself), do you not hear the Torah (this is a rabbinic technique)?

v 22…For it is written that Abraham had two sons (Ishmael and Isaac), one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman (this is not going to be an argument about Grace versus Torah, but it is an argument for faith versus works-that is the key to understand Galatians; if the Torah has been done away with, there would be no need for grace).

v 23… But the son of the bondwoman (symbolizing those who wanted to obtain redemption through their own works and merits of the flesh) was born according to the flesh (an act of Abraham, not God) and the son of the free woman through the promise (faith).

v 24… This is allegorically speaking: for these are two covenants, one is from Mount Sinai bearing children
(Torah was given there but her children were the children of works) who are to be slave (in bondage to works);  she is Hagar.

v 25…Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem (it was God’s city and home of the Torah but she has been placed in bondage by those who claimed that by observing the Torah was a way to gain righteousness with God) for she is enslaved with her children (by a system of works righteousness; the 18 Edicts of Shammai and other man-made traditions).

v 26… But Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother (like Sarah gave birth to a son because of a promise she could not see, this Jerusalem that cannot be seen or touched required faith and she is the mother of all those children of faith and the promise).

v 27…For it is written (recorded earlier), “Rejoice barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more are the children of the desolate one than of the one who has a husband” (Isa 54.1).

v 28… And we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise (children of faith, not works).

v 29… But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh (human works) persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit (promise), so it is now also (this is not grace versus law, it is faith versus works, works always persecutes faith; again, if the Torah has been done away with, there would be no need for grace).

v 30…But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman (works) and her son (results of it), for the son of the bondwoman (works) shall not be an heir (to salvation) with the son of the free woman” (faith-Gen 21.10).

v 31…So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free woman.

Posted in Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Questions, Tying into the New Testament, Verse-by-Verse Bible Studies

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