4:21-31 What do we understand from what Paul says here?
4:21-31 What do we understand from what Paul says here?
Paul was perplexed by the behaviour of the Galatians (cp V20).
The Galatians were bent on holding to the letter of the law, yet they did not understand its real significance. It could not save anyone - it only pointed to the Saviour, Jesus, whom the Galatians were now rejecting (cp Jn 5:39-40 with Ro 1:16-17; 3:20-28; 9:31-33 and Ga 2:16).
To enable the Galatians to better understand the law and its purpose, Paul uses the two sons of Abraham as an analogy to distinguish between law and grace (cp Ga 4:21-23).
Ishmael, the son of the bondmaid Hagar, symbolizes the law, and Isaac, the son of the freewoman Sarah, symbolizes grace, or the promise of God. The history of Ishmael and Isaac illustrates the conflict between law and grace (cp Ga 4:28-31).
Law and grace cannot co-exist. As Ishmael had to give place to Isaac, so law has given place to grace (cp 2Cor 3:6-15; Ga 3:19-25; 5:1-5; He 7:11-28; 9:1-22; 10:1-18).
Paul also uses earthly Jerusalem, and "Jerusalem which is above", to compare law and grace (cp Ga 4:24-26).
Earthly Jerusalem is an example of the bondage in which those people live who reject grace and look to the law for their justification, whereas "Jerusalem which is above" - the city of the living God; the heavenly Jerusalem - is an example of the promise of God - salvation by grace through faith - being appropriated by all those who accept Christ as their Saviour.
Jerusalem which is above is also called New Jerusalem in scripture. It will be the future habitation of all the redeemed of God, from Abel to the very last soul saved in the great tribulation (cp He 11:1-16; 12:18-24; Rev 21:2, 9-10, 24-27.
We also learn in Rev 21:2, 9-10 that New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ.
For a more detailed study on this subject see comments on Ro 7:4, 2Cor 11:2, Eph 2:15-16 (B), Eph 4:13, 5:25-32, Rev 19:7-9 and Rev 21:2).