Galatians 4:19-31

The Allegorical Argument

Open your Bible to…

Gal. 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

Gal. 4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

Pray

Intro

√ The allegorical argument

We come now to Paul’s last argument in defense of the Gospel of Grace. So far he’s presented…

The Personal Experience Argument ~ 3:1-5

The Biblical Argument ~ 3:6-14

The Logical Argument ~ 3:15-29

The Historical Argument ~ 4:1-11

The Sentimental Argument ~ 4:12-18

His last argument is what we call…

The Allegorical Argument

We call it that because Paul uses that word in vs. 24…

Gal. 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

Gal. 4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

Or as the Old King James renders it…

“Which things are an allegory…”

…which is simply a transliteration of the Greek word “allegoreo, what is an allegory?

“A story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegories are composed of several symbols or metaphors.”

So, an allegory is story (real or fictional) whose characters, events, and even the places where the story unfolds has a deeper meaning.

Ex. C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia”

Well, in our text this morning the apostle Paul uses the real story of Abraham’s life and trials as symbols of the battle between…

…law & grace and the Judaizers & authentic Christianity.

Ap. Allegory and types

Lot’s of great allegories and types found in scripture! But, beware that you don’t fall into the trap of seeing “types” and allegories in every passage!

As a general rule most of the people, events and stories in the Bible do not have a “deeper” or hidden meaning.

Rather, the main message is found in the plain literal meaning of the words used.

Ex. Replacement theology ~ unbiblical allegory

Even some folks in the Calvary movement build every sermon around the supposed hidden meaning in the text.

It’s cute, clever, and it’s entertaining, and those who are good at it can really wow a crowd…

…but it also leads to some strange, weird, and unbiblical teaching!

So be careful! Let the Word of God speak for itself and stick with the types and allegories that are clearly defined by those used of God to pen the scriptures.

The Historical Events (vs. 19-23)

Gal. 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

Gal. 4:20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Gal. 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

Gal. 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

Gal. 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

√ The historical events

Paul begins his last argument by appealing to the Galatians to consider what the Law actually said and required…

“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?” ~ vs. 21

His line of thinking is that they probably really didn’t know what they were getting into!

The Judaizers certainly weren’t going to tell them about the “fine print” of the Law!

So, he’s going to take them back to Abraham and show them the contrast between Law and Grace through Abraham’s experience…

…comparing his two wives and two sons.

√ The life of Abraham

It would probably be helpful to do a quick review of Abraham’s life so that we can understand Paul’s argument.

75 ~ Abraham was called by God out of the country of his birth and led to the Promised Land which God promised to give to Abraham’s descendants.

That of course meant that Abraham and Sarah would have to have a child and at 75 the odds weren’t too good! The point, it would have be a miracle for them to have a baby!

85 ~ no baby yet so Sarah gets impatient and decides that they need to help God (always a bad idea) bring about His promise! So, she gives her maid to Abraham as a wife to have children for her!

86 ~ what-do-you-know the maid Hagar has a baby boy whom they name “Ishmael” ~ “God will hear”, or as I like to think of his name, “oh yeah God will hear about this!”.

99 ~ God reminds Abraham that He promised to give him and Sarah a son and that when he is born they are to name him “Isaac” ~ “laughter”, or as I like of his name, “go ahead and laugh because no one’s going to believe this!”

100 ~ Isaac is born to a father who is 100 and a mom who is 90, yep people are go laugh when they hear about this!

103 ~ Isaac is weaned and the family throws a big party to celebrate. However, Ishmael is 17 and recognizes that his place in his father’s estate is threatened by little Isaac, so he mocks him and causes problems in the home.

So, Sarah tells Abraham to toss Hagar and Ishmael out of the house. God tells Abraham that Sarah is right and so out they go.

On the surface the story sounds like another tale of a dysfunctional family! But, Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit shows us that there is a deeper meaning to the…

Two wives ~ one free the other a slave

Two sons ~ one born of promise the other of flesh

…that has spiritual significance to the Christians in Galatia and to us!

The Allegorical Interpretation (vs. 24-27)

Gal. 4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

Gal. 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

Gal. 4:26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Gal. 4:27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labor!

For the desolate has many more children

Than she who has a husband.”

√ The allegorical interpretation

Paul makes this easy for us to connect the dots between Abraham’s real family experience and the spiritual meaning it carries, note vs. 24…

“which things are symbolic”

Sweet! So, we understand that Paul is speaking figuratively and is going to infuse spiritual meaning into the story!

√ The symbols

1) Hagar represents the Law…

Gal. 4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

Gal. 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia…

That is, each of the wives of Abraham represent a covenant.

Paul says that Hagar represents the Old Covenant, the Law, which was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

And, notice that Paul says that the covenant given on Mount Sinai gives birth to bondage ~ vs. 24.

Ex. Slaves

Remember that Hagar was a slave. Even though Sarah gave her to Abraham as his “wife” she was still and would always be a slave.

Therefore, under the laws and customs of their time anyone born to Hagar would be born into slavery!

Ishmael, though Abraham’s son was still a slave and thereby was not entitled to the promises that God made to Abraham.

The spiritual application is that everyone born under the Law given on Mount Sinai is born a slave and not entitled to the promises of the Heavenly Father.

√ The slaves

Look at the last part of vs. 25 and notice that Paul equates the slavery of Hagar and Mount Sinai to Jerusalem!

Gal. 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

His point is that the city and the people of Jerusalem at the time of his writing were in slavery to both the Law and the Roman Empire!

2. Sarah represents Grace

Paul doesn’t mention Sarah by name, rather it’s understood from verse 22 & 23 that where he writes “a freewoman” the mother of Isaac (vs. 28) that he’s talking about Sarah.

So, Sarah represents the new covenant of Grace.

Also, note that he compares Sarah to the new Jerusalem!

Gal. 4:26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

The new Jerusalem is that city which God has prepared in heaven for those who love Him.

It’s mentioned by that name in Rev. 21:2 and named the “Heavenly Jerusalem” in Hebrews 12:22.

It’s the city where God dwells with his saints, those who have already left this world.

After the Millennial Age the city descends from heaven to earth and will be the place where all those who have been saved by grace will live with God!

The spiritual application is that everyone born again under Grace represented by the new Jerusalem is born free!

The Personal Application (vs. 28-31)

Gal. 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

Gal. 4:29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

Gal. 4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

Gal. 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

√ The personal application

In these last verses Paul ties together the historical record and the symbolic meaning of it to the lives of the Christians in Galatia.

1. Born of the Spirit

Gal. 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

Paul’s point is that just as Isaac experienced a supernatural birth and was a child of promise…

…so too all Christians experience a supernatural birth and are the recipients of God’s promise of salvation!

Since the Galatians, and ourselves, are children of promise they and we should not live as children under the slavery of the Law!

2. Persecuted by the flesh

Gal. 4:29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

The application here is that just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac…

…so the Judaizers persecuted Paul and all those like him who trusted in Grace alone.

Paul’s point is that the Judaizers are like Ishmael in that they are born of self-effort, the work of the flesh and will always be at war with those born of the Spirit.

In fact in Paul’s life he was followed all over the Roman Empire by the Judaizers who persecuted both him and those to who he ministered.

So too in our lives we will be harassed, and even persecuted by the legalists in our day.

Ex. WBC

They represent one of the most legalistic, hate mongering, scripture-twisting, tasteless groups on the planet.

I find it interesting that for the most part they don’t picket in front of churches that actually condone sinful activity…

…instead they protest in front of churches that for the most part simply teach God’s Grace.

So, don’t be surprised if you come under attack from people who call themselves “Christians” but practice a form of the Law.

3. Obligated to cast out

Gal. 4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

In the story of Abraham we find that at the celebration for little Isaac when he was weaned from his mother…

…that Ishmael mocked him!

That didn’t sit well with Sarah so she demanded that Abraham toss Ishmael and his mother out of the tent.

Abraham didn’t want to because of his love for Ishmael, but God told him that Sarah was right and he was to listen to her.

The application, very cleaver on Paul’s part, is that the churches in Galatia were to do the same thing with the false teachers…

…toss them out!

Ap. Toss them out!

Paul’s arguments are clear…

…the Law and Grace cannot coexist.

That’s because there is a fundamental incompatibility between a religion based on works and one based on faith.

You simply can’t earn what it is supposed to be a gift! Therefore, you have to get rid of one of them…

…in our Christian experience it’s the Law that has to go!

Close

√ The allegorical argument

Paul’s point is that…

The promise of God was given to Abraham and Sarah…

…not Hagar.

The son of promise is Isaac…

…not Ishmael.

The “descendants” of Abraham who will inherit the promise are those born of the supernatural power of God…

…not the works of the flesh.

Salvation is of the New Covenant…

…not the Old.

Don’t let anyone foist their legalistic views and practices on you!

Ap. Beware of legalism

One wouldn’t think that in a ministry like Calvary Chapel that there would be much of cause to worry about legalism worming into the church. Yet, even in Calvary’s we’ve seen it…

Home schooling vs. public or private school

Woman, makeup, hair length, pants vs. dresses

Under the New Covenant you are the priest of your home. Let the Lord guide you in the practice of your faith.