The heir to an estate, though owning everything, is no different from a servant while still a child, under the care of tutors and caretakers until the predetermined time set by the father. Similarly, believers were once subservient to worldly influences, but with the coming of Christ, they have been redeemed and adopted as sons of God. The Galatians are reminded that they were once ignorant of God and served false idols, but now they know God and should not turn back to their old ways. The apostle Paul expresses concern that his labor among them may have been in vain and urges them to imitate him and live according to the Spirit, not the law. Paul uses the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to illustrate the difference between the old covenant of law and the new covenant of promise, and reminds the Galatians that they are sons of the free woman, Sarah, and therefore heirs of God's promise.
1 But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything 2 For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father 3 So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world 4 But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law 5 so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons 6 Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: "Abba, Father. 7 And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God 8 But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods 9 But now, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew 10 You serve the days, and months, and times, and years 11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you 12 Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all 13 But you know that, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh 14 You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus 15 Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth 17 They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them 18 But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you 19 My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you 20 And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of you 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, have you not read the law 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a servant woman, and one by a free woman 23 And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the promise 24 These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which is Hagar 25 For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons 26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother 27 For it was written: "Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband. 28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise 29 But just as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now 30 And what does Scripture say? "Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman. 31 And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free