Free Bible Commentary
“Galatians 4:1-7”
Categories: Galatians“Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
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Paul had written in the previous verse, “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” In today’s verses he develops the idea of a child being an heir to show us that God’s children reach their maturity and receive their inheritance through faith in Jesus Christ. The main point being made is that people in the world (both Jews and Gentiles) were “in bondage under the elemental things of the world” (verse 3), before Christ died for the world and brought us salvation by faith.
Paul compared Israel to a child under the care of guardians (similar to the situation with the tutor in Galatians 3:24-25) when they were bound under the Law of Moses. They were considered children who had the legal status of a “slave” before they reached the age of maturity in Christ Jesus, and received the full rights of son-ship. Israel was “also” (verse 3) in a similar state as the Gentiles were with their “rudimentary” religious practices (verse 4).
In Colossians 2:8 Paul referred to “philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men” as the “elementary principles of the world.” Also in that same context he called the observance of Jewish dietary restrictions, and the observance of the Sabbath day and various holy days as “a mere shadow” and “rudimentary principles of the world” (Colossians 2:14-17, 20-23). All “sacred” practices and observances that existed before the coming of Christ were just the “A B C’s” of religion. They were just “elementary school” before “graduating” to the most excellent things.
But, “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law” so that “we”, all Jews and Gentiles “might receive the adoption as sons.” (verses 4-5) In Christ Jesus, all the inferior, “elementary”, “rudimentary” things and their “bondage” have been cast aside and all who accept Him in obedient faith can rightly call God their “Abba! Father!”
That’s intimacy with God to its greatest degree folks! To be an “heir” of God. To be able to call Him “Abba”, much like a Jewish child would refer to his father, but a slave had no right to. Only through the Gospel. Only through Jesus. Only through a covenant relationship in Him.
Please read Galatians 4:8-11 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
