I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,1 though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, awere enslaved to the elementary principles1 of the world. 4 But awhen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, bborn cof woman, born dunder the law, 5 ato redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive badoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent athe Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then aan heir through God.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you adid not know God, you bwere enslaved to those that by nature care not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather ato be known by God, bhow can you turn back again to cthe weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 aYou observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid aI may have labored over you in vain. 12 Brothers,1aI entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. bYou did me no wrong. 13 You know it was abecause of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you bat first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me aas an angel of God, bas Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by atelling you the truth?117 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and anot only when I am present with you, 19 amy little children, bfor whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ cis formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, aone by a slave woman and bone by a free woman. 23 But athe son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while bthe son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two acovenants. bOne is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;1 she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But athe Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
a“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.”
28 Now you,1 brothers, alike Isaac, bare children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh apersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, bso also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? a“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.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but aof the free woman.