And answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Whoever gives up the article of justification does not know the true God. What else can you expect? Salem Media Group. If all men know God how can Paul say that the Galatians did not know God prior to the hearing of the Gospel? Our feeble groans, "Abba, Father," will be heard of God sooner than the combined racket of hell, sin, and the Law. You are slaves of the Law and therefore slaves of sin, death, and everlasting damnation. But before he follows up his doctrinal discourse with practical precepts he once more reproves the Galatians. Most ofthe people who lived in Galatia were *Gentiles. Train your conscience to believe that God approves of you. But they defend and uphold their doctrine of works which is of the devil. But now comes the Gospel and says: "Because you do not do these things, you cannot live in them." Zondervan. (John 1:18.) True enough. But this statement expresses more than grief. An outcome of this production was the New Testament for English Readers (4 vols. Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Our opponents tell us that everything was at peace before the Gospel was revived by us. I have. Paul now begins his appeal to his readers to drop their legalism (Galatians 4:8-31) A. While Paul’s letters do not relate any narrative traditions about Jesus’ birth, he does speak profoundly about the meaning of the incarnation. Under the elements of the world.By the elements of the world the Apostle does not understand the physical elements, as some have thought. They are slaves. He refers to these in II Corinthians 7:6, "Without were fightings, within were fears." He descended upon Christ in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16), and in the likeness of fire upon the apostles and other believers. The iniquity of man did it. "How much happier you used to be. You are of your father, the devil.". For men of all ages have had the idea that they are right when they follow after the Law and outwardly perform its requirements. The fact that I am now absent from you ought not to change your attitude towards me. Is it therefore not extreme folly for Rome and the Mohammedans to fight each other about religion? All who give their faith to this Son of Mine, to them I am God and Father. You are put out of the house.". We shall understand that the Law does not justify. He calls it the elements of the world, the weak and beggarly elements of the world. The Spirit intercedes for us not in many words or long prayers, but with groanings, with little sounds like "Abba." "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." They are like spiders that suck venom out of sweet and fragrant flowers. They say it would be better if we would make some slight concession rather than cause such commotion and controversy in the Church regarding an article which is not even one of the fundamental doctrines. But he is not sure whether the Galatians have fully understood the difference between the Gospel and the Law. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. Paul makes it clear enough that it takes more than an Abrahamic pedigree to be a child of God. For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. The conscience can now hold its head high and say to the Law: "You are not so holy yourself. He did not resign his office because he knew that the Gospel he preached was the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes. Secondly, because Thou hast purchased heaven for me by Thy suffering and death. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? This teaching forms one of the chief articles of their faith. But because they attach more importance to charity than to faith in Christ they dishonor Him and pervert His Word. Paul visited the region againin A… It says: "My Father, I am in great trouble and you seem so far away. 21:11.) Unless a person has a thorough knowledge of Christian doctrine he had better leave allegories alone. They do not wrestle against sin. (Luke 12:49.). 1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Abraham had two sons: Ishmael by Hagar, and Isaac by Sarah. You crucified the Son of God. We must have offended you somehow. But because God commands it, it does not follow that we do it. But when the fulness of the time — Appointed by the Father, Galatians 4:2. 1939. The conscience ought not to be on speaking terms with the Law. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen." The conscience ought to know only Christ. "In the course of his Epistle he calls this promise of the blessing righteousness, life, deliverance from the Law, the testament, etc. Anxious lest he should do more harm than good, he is careful to let them see that his criticism proceeds from affection and a true apostolic concern for their welfare. We are not the heirs of some rich and mighty man, but heirs of God, the almighty Creator of all things. The doctrine of the Gospel, we are told, is the cause of all the present unrest in the world. Who would have thought it possible that the Galatians, taught as they were by that efficient apostle and teacher, Paul, could so quickly be led astray by the false apostles? (Romans 8:27.) Our certainty is of Christ, that mighty Hero who overcame the Law, sin, death, and all evils. Yet we make little headway because the devil seduces people into misbelief by taking Christ out of their sight and focusing their eyes upon the Law. Galatians /. Paul does not say that Christ was born of man and woman, but only of woman. He knows people like illustrations and stories. Whoever goes back to the Law loses the knowledge of the truth, fails in the recognition of his sinfulness, does not know God, nor the devil, nor himself, and does not understand the meaning and purpose of the Law. The objection is frequently raised that the Bible commands that we should love God with all our heart. When the Law takes us into judgment it has a perfect right to do so. We are born in sin. Next, the Holy Ghost is sent forth into the hearts of the believers, as here stated, "God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts." They may even teach that men are delivered from their sins by the death of Christ. Galatia was part of the country that we now call Turkey. Our way of writing is incisive and straightforward. It does not stir up trouble. Paul calls the Virgin Mary a woman. When we have a love for the Word of God, and gladly hear, talk, write, and think of Christ, we are to know that this inclination toward Christ is the gift and work of the Holy Ghost. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." It is hard for a man to defend his cause at a distance, especially when he has reason to think that he personally has fallen into disfavor. He therefore changes the tone of his voice and speaks kindly to them. All rights reserved. That he has a virgin in mind is obvious. He says: "I have begotten you Galatians through the Gospel, giving you the form of Christ. For the "we" in Galatians 4:5 plainly refers … (Luke 4:23.). That was greatly to their honor. As certain as we are that Christ pleases God, so sure ought we to be that we also please God, because Christ is in us. A servant - In the servitude of sin; or treated as a servant by being bound under the oppressive rites and ceremonies of the Law; compare the note at Galatians 4:3. This is our daily experience. If Paul had not brought in advance indisputable arguments for the righteousness of faith over against the righteousness of works this allegory would do little good. The Apostle had apparently finished his discourse on justification when this illustration of the youthful heir occurred to him. (Isaiah 54:1.) Galatians 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, as set of 17 volumes on the New Testament, the result of Barclay's dedicated work For I stand in doubt of you. You then served idols that were no gods. "But he," says Paul, "that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit." If any of the Romanists are saved it is because they forget their good deeds and merits and feel like Paul: "Not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ." The Word of God falling from the lips of the apostle or minister enters into the heart of the hearer. You can never be sure how the written page will affect the reader, because his mood, his circumstances, his affections are so changeable. The earthly Jerusalem is not Sarah, but a part of Hagar. And how about the overthrow of the Roman Empire? The rod hurts, but correction is necessary. Those who seek to be justified by the Law grow weaker and more destitute right along. For that matter,--the Law continues to reveal sin. Although I am absent in the flesh, I am with you in spirit and in my doctrine which you ought to retain by all means because through it you received the Holy Spirit.". (Acts 16:20,21.). Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son. The Law is weak and poor, the sinner is weak and poor--two feeble beggars trying to help each other. We would not feel so good when we have them; we would not feel so bad when we lose them. The Law can only aggravate their weakness and poverty. What claim can men who are subservient to sin, subject to the curse of the Law, and worthy of everlasting death, have on God and eternal life? Paul is an expert at allegories. The Apostle wants his Galatians to know that just because he had told them the truth they are not to think that he dislikes them. Indeed, the Galatians are to be commended for receiving the Gospel from a man as unimposing and afflicted all around as Paul was. What satisfaction can there be in collecting laws with which to torment oneself and others? Christ might have overcome the Law by an exercise of His omnipotent authority over the Law. Everything they do is wrong. But the setting-up exercises of the monks draw great applause. The Law as the husband of the fruitful woman procreates many children. So help me now.". The apostle, in this chapter, is still carrying on the same general design as in the former-to recover these Christians from the impressions made upon them by the judaizing teachers, and to represent their weakness and folly in suffering themselves to be drawn away … At any rate, our opponents cannot accuse us of adultery, murder, theft, and such crimes. What sweet names he is calling you in his letter. We who are born of the Gospel, and live in Christ, and rejoice in our inheritance, have Ishmael for our enemy. The Roman theologians teach that no man can know for a certainty whether he stands in the favor of God or not. But ours is a doctrine of grace and peace. However, there are many factors that prevent such full reassurance on our part. In one more respect the Law has been abolished. Finding the new version too difficult to understand? Therefore we must carefully study this doctrine of Christian liberty, not only for the confirmation of the doctrine of justification, but also for the comfort and encouragement of those who are weak in faith. But because our faith rests on the promises of the infinite God, His promises are also infinite, so much so that nothing can accuse or condemn us. What changed their attitude toward us? They all imagine, if we do this or that work, God will have mercy on us; if not, God will be angry. (John 3:18.) "Do you Galatians know why the false apostles are so zealous about you? Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Paul simply follows the custom of the Jews who included the first book of Moses in the collective term, "Law." Say: "I am all right with God. ", Considering the many afflictions of Paul, we are not surprised to hear him loudly praising the Galatians for not being offended at him as others were. Our opponents do not defend their own moral delinquency. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? But once inside the monastery the recruits are told to doubt the promises of God. Do not permit the Law to lie in your conscience. It is so faint we do not know we are groaning. What these infirmities were he himself explains in II Corinthians 12:9,10: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I am the one for whose sake you are killed. The Gospel of the Cross which the Church proclaims does not have the appeal that the Law has for men, and therefore it does not find many adherents. Now that the more important part of his Epistle has been finished, he realizes that he has handled the Galatians too roughly. (John 14:12.) It merely rebukes the ingratitude of men. He would now gladly make Jerusalem the Sarah of the New Testament, but he cannot. "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar," so said the Jews of Paul and Silas. The Ten Commandments have no right to condemn that conscience in which Jesus dwells, for Jesus has taken from the Ten Commandments the right and power to curse us. A teacher chastises the pupil to reform him. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. ", Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? We are the children and heirs of God through faith in Christ. Paul explained the purpose of these miraculous gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 14:22, "Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." To make sure, he introduces another illustration. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 4:2. The Jews had been obliged to keep holy the Sabbath Day, the new moons, the feast of the passover, the feast of tabernacles, and other feasts. This sentence affects not only those popes, cardinals bishops, and monks who were notoriously wicked and made their bellies their Gods. The Arabians call Mount Sinai Agar. And in the eleventh chapter of the same Epistle the Apostle writes: "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Moses had not cried unto the Lord. Paul had visited the region atleast twice. Teaching the Law and performing miracles did not constitute His unique mission to the world. Christ, according to Paul, was not an agent of the Law but a patient of the Law. And in very fact the Galatians sacrificed their lives for Paul. From now to the end of the Epistle the Apostle writes mostly of Christian conduct. He says: "You have not incurred the hatred and persecutions of the world. Hence the Law had no jurisdiction over Him. This goes to show how hard it is to believe. We know that they are the cause of all their own troubles. Formerly, when the traditions of the fathers were taught in the Church, the devil was not excited as he is now. ), The Holy Ghost contemptuously calls the admirers of the Law the children of the bondwoman. He lived a chaste and holy life. Go to, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient. As Hagar bore Abraham a son who was not an heir but a servant, so Sinai, the Law, the allegorical Hagar, bore God a carnal and servile people of the Law without promise. I would have been tempted to call Jerusalem, Sarah, or the New Testament. ", We request the same consideration for ourselves. Galatians 4 Commentary; Galatians 5 Commentary; Galatians 6 Commentary; See another more in depth VERSE BY VERSE commentary on Galatians 4 on site. To be a child of God requires faith in Christ. Faith is feeble, because the flesh wars against the spirit. Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. The Apostle tells the Galatians that he will keep their kindness in perpetual remembrance. This inner assurance of the grace of God is accompanied by outward indications such as gladly to hear, preach, praise, and to confess Christ, to do one's duty in the station in which God has placed us, to aid the needy, and to comfort the sorrowing. The words, "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God," require perfect obedience, perfect fear, perfect trust, and perfect love. Did not the destruction of Jerusalem follow on the heels of the Gospel? Jerusalem here means the universal Christian Church on earth. Surely it is no easy thing to confess Him Lord of all and Savior of the world who was a reproach of men, and despised of the people, and the laughing stock of the world. It is one and the same thing whether a person reverts to the Law or to the worship of idols. ", We are being treated that way. St. Augustine observed that "every man is certain of his faith, if he has faith." For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Through Christ.The Apostle always has Christ on the tip of his tongue. In fact, according to the promise of Christ, the apostles performed greater miracles than Christ Himself. Those who least deserve the praise of the world, get most. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. Bible Commentaries /. She is a slave. (Romans 3:11.) But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Galatians 4:22-31 Commentary - Flesh versus Spirit; WILLIAM BARCLAY. My reply is, cursed be any love or harmony which demands for its preservation that we place the Word of God in jeopardy! Galatians 4:4. That we might receive the adoption of sons. That God adopted us is due to the merit of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who humbled Himself under the Law and redeemed us law-ridden sinners. 2. Was come, God sent forth— From his own bosom. If a person could fully appreciate what it means to be a son and heir of God, he would rate the might and wealth of nations small change in comparison with his heavenly inheritance. "I told you the truth because I love you. « Galatians 4:3 Galatians 4:5 » Wherever you find a love for the Word, thank God for the Holy Spirit who infuses this love into the hearts of men. The monasteries recruit the youth on the plea that their "holy" orders will assuredly recruit them for heaven. He maintains that their zeal is mere pretense to deceive the Galatians. Because they are slaves and persecutors of the children of the free woman, they shall be cast out of the house of God forever. (John 12:47.) You cannot grow strong through weakness and rich through poverty. People tell us: "Physician, heal thyself." God will sanction my good intentions and reward me with everlasting life. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (I Cor. On the contrary, you were so loving, so kind, so friendly towards me, you received me like an angel, like Jesus Himself.". "God sent forth His Son, made of a woman." I may know a person by sight, and still not know him, because I do not know how he feels about me. Become like me is the first imperative in Galatians. He did not come into the world for the purpose of teaching the Law, as little as it was the purpose of His coming to perform miracles. They said to Paul: "As concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against." They declare that the Son of God did not only fulfill one or two easy requirements of the Law, but that He endured all the tortures of the Law. But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. They cannot do it. Since then the whole world has been upset. And here let us note, by the way, that true doctrine always produces concord. As long as we preach Christ and confess Him to be our Savior, we must be content to be called vicious trouble makers. The Law makes them ten times weaker and poorer than they were before. 2; Xen. Such mere outward decency does not constitute Christianity. Of Paul they said: "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." They act as though the Word of God does not concern them. 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