Setting – Paul supports his argument of faith verses the law by given a symbolic example of Isaac and Ishmael.
Content – Ishmael represents those following the law, which was given through Moses on Mount Sinai. This represents earthly Jerusalem (v. 25) “Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem” Whereas Isaac represents God’s promise and heavenly Jerusalem (v. 26) “But the Jerusalem above is free” Just like Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so it still was then (and now) (v. 29) “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him {who was born} according to the Spirit, so it is now also.” Since we want to follow the promise and not the law (5:1) “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Those who believe are of the free women in comparison to the bondwomen (v. 31) “So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”
Application – We can try and please God by our efforts or believe in a promise that He made to Abraham. But doing it through out efforts is meaningless to God. The law was set up to lead us back to the promise God made.
It’s so amazing to realize that God made us, to love us and then He fulfilled His promise and we can’t do anything to gain more of His love. Our existence, our life and our salvation are all from Him. We have nothing to offer him but ourselves, that is, our life back to Him. With this we should be basking in the splendor of who God is and what He has done.
Content – Ishmael represents those following the law, which was given through Moses on Mount Sinai. This represents earthly Jerusalem (v. 25) “Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem” Whereas Isaac represents God’s promise and heavenly Jerusalem (v. 26) “But the Jerusalem above is free” Just like Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so it still was then (and now) (v. 29) “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him {who was born} according to the Spirit, so it is now also.” Since we want to follow the promise and not the law (5:1) “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Those who believe are of the free women in comparison to the bondwomen (v. 31) “So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”
Application – We can try and please God by our efforts or believe in a promise that He made to Abraham. But doing it through out efforts is meaningless to God. The law was set up to lead us back to the promise God made.
It’s so amazing to realize that God made us, to love us and then He fulfilled His promise and we can’t do anything to gain more of His love. Our existence, our life and our salvation are all from Him. We have nothing to offer him but ourselves, that is, our life back to Him. With this we should be basking in the splendor of who God is and what He has done.
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