When we consider Paul's
writings to the church members of Galatia, we should note how he
repeats his theme over and over again. Paul is very concerned about
these dear people following false teachings being presented by
Judaizers. They taught that the law of God and its ceremonies must be
kept in addition to receiving the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Paul saw this as a return to the very law they could not keep in the
first place. In Galatians chapter four and verse twenty-four, Paul
continues to explain his concerns with an allegory where he wrote:
Which things are an
allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount
Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Hagar.
Paul
begins, “Which things are an allegory:...” Our first
question might be, “What things?” The answer is the things that
he just wrote. Paul wrote in verses twenty-one thru twenty-three:
Tell me, ye that desire
to be under the law, do you 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.
An
“allegory” is a symbol, type, emblem or figure that declares or
represents something else. For every New Testament principle there is
an Old Testament story, figure or symbolism. Paul says that the two
children born unto Abraham through Hagar, his bond maid, and Sarah,
his wife, serve as types of the the law and the grace of God.
He
continued, “for these are the two covenants: the one from the
mount Sinai...” Paul simply declares that these two sons are
like unto the “two covenants” of God. He refers to when
God gave Moses His law or “Ten Commandments” upon Mount Sinai.
(Read Exodus chapters nineteen and twenty for more information.) Paul
said the law “genders to bondage...” The idea is that the
law has a proclivity to birthing “bondage” in a person. Like
slaves entrapped and captured in their actions and behavior, the law
has a tendency to bind its followers. In other words, those who
attempt to follow the law are captured by the very law they endeavor
to keep.
Paul
declares, “this is Hagar.” Hagar was the bond maid of
Sarah, and although it was Sarah's idea that Abraham have a child
through her, Hagar was not a free woman. She was bound under the law
of a servant, and so her child was also born under this bondage. Thus
was the law of God. It isn't that the law was flawed, for it is not,
but rather it was the recipients of the law who were in error.
Because people could not keep the law, it had a tendency to bind,
restrict, gender bondage. Although it leaves us hanging in the middle
of a thought, Paul notes this part of the allegory in this verse, and
will continue his thoughts in tomorrow's verse. For now we shall be
sufficed by thinking about the effects of the law.
We
must keep in mind that although Paul is writing these words, they are
inspired by the mind of Almighty God. It is God who is using Paul to
share with us the value of the doctrine of His grace. If we listen
intently, we will hear the voice of God behind Paul's words
encouraging us to accept His loving grace and see the law for what it
truly was – the means by which we see our own sinful nature, and
look to Him for redeeming grace. What an awesome God we serve, and
what a loving Savior we have in Jesus Christ. Paul the apostle
becomes an allegory himself as he shares the necessity for the truth
of God and His grace to be known.
Next time Paul will tell us more about Hagar and how she relates to
the law, so read ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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