Paul is still sharing the short comings of the Law verses a life of faith in the faithfulness of GOD, as Jesus himself exhibited, as our example. In this section of his discussion he shows the difference between bond and free, for this he uses the OT figures of Hagar or Agar, as our being slaves to the works of the Law, and Sarah, the free woman of those who are in Christ. Freed from religion and religions legal systems that enslave all of humanity. Let us drop in on his talk shall we, keeping in mind these things, many of the religious systems find hard to accept; because of their many traditions, customs and rites and rituals would have to be left behind. And it is these that hold them bond, all these many years, bond by burdens they were never meant to carry, as like an animals yoke.
Galatians 4:21-31 "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written (by Isaiah in 54:1-5), "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." Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture (in Genesis 21:10-12)? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." (KJV)
Galatians 4:21-31 "Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written (by Isaiah in 54:1-5), "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." Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 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. But what does the Scripture say (in Genesis 21:10-12)? "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." So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman." (ESV)
Galatians 4:21-31 "Since you are so intrigued by the Law, please understand its prophetic message. The law records the fact that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave girl, the other by a free woman. The one is produced by the flesh (the DIY-tree), the other by faith (the promise). There is a parallel meaning in the story of the two sons: they represent two systems, works and grace. Sinai is an Arabian rocky mountain named after Hagar, (outside the land of promise). Its associated with the Law of Moses as mirrored by Jerusalem as the capital of Jewish legalism. Hagar is the mother of the Law of works. But the mother from above, the true mother of humanity is grace, the free Jerusalem; she is the mother of the promised. For it is written, "Rejoice oh childless one! Erupt in jubilee! For though you have never known travail before, your children will greatly outnumber hers who were married!" (Now this Married, means to the Law, this spoken by Isaiah in 54:1-5.) We resemble Isaac: we are begotten of faith, the promise is our parent. Just as when the flesh child persecuted the faith child, so now these Jerusalem Jews in their Christian disguise seek to harass you; however, Scripture is clear: "Expel the slave mother and her son; the slave son cannot inherit with the free son." (This is in Genesis 21:10-12, in exactly the same way, rid your minds radically from the slave mother and child mentality. Light dispels darkness effortlessly.) Realize whose children we are my Brothers and Sisters: we are not children of the slave-mother, the Law, but children of the free mother; we are begotten of grace!" (The Mirror)
My hope and prayer is that this clears to air of all falsehood that hangs over the world systems of religion and legalism. For we are all children of the Day and not the night though there remains chaos in the vain imaginations of the slave-women mentalities. Now may the LORD GOD grant you his light of the Day woman in both you and yours, to this I say the Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment