Galatians 4

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,

but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.

And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?

You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—

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

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.

However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”

Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter unfolds the transition from slavery under the elements of the world to sonship through Christ by invoking the image of a child heir and grounding it in the promise to Abraham; it contrasts the old covenant of bondage, symbolized by Hagar and Sinai, with the new covenant of freedom, represented by Sarah and the heavenly Jerusalem, warning against a return to legalistic observances.

Flow.

Begins with an analogy: while the heir is a minor, he is under guardians, like God’s people were under the law until Christ.
Declares that at the appointed time, God sent His Son to redeem and adopt us, giving the Spirit who witnesses to our adoption.
Sharpens the rebuke: turning back to religious calendar observances is a regression to weak and enslaving principles.
Culminates in the allegory of Hagar and Sarah, showing that true heirs are born of promise, not flesh, and belong to the free Jerusalem above.

Connections. Following chapter 3, which establishes justification by faith and the role of the law until Christ, this chapter deepens the argument by portraying believers as adopted sons rather than slaves, a status secured not by law but by promise. The allegory of the two covenants confirms the theological foundation for rejecting legalism, which chapter 5 will address existentially by exhorting walk in the Spirit, not under human effort.

What it teaches. The chapter teaches that redemption through Christ fulfills the law’s custodial role, granting believers not just forgiveness but the status of sons, sealed by the Spirit’s inward cry of “Abba, Father” (WCF 12.1; LC 73). The law, given through Moses, was temporary and preparatory (WCF 7.6), while salvation belongs to the children of the promise, like Isaac, not of fleshly effort, like Ishmael (WCF 7.4). The earthly Jerusalem and Mount Sinai symbolize a covenant of bondage — a present reality for those who rely on law () — whereas the believer’s true citizenship is in the free, heavenly Jerusalem (HC LD 23). Therefore, those who are in Christ are not heirs by human lineage or observance, but by divine promise and Spirit-given faith (WCF 6.3).

Apply. Believers live as free heirs of God, not because they keep the form of religion, but because they are indwelt by the Spirit of the Son.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.