Sons and Heirs
(Genesis 21:1-8; Romans 8:12-17)

1Now I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he differs not from a slave, though being owner of everything. 2Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time appointed by his father. 3So also, we when we were children, were held in bondage under the principlesa of the world.

4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under the Law, 5that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the divine adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God.

Paul's Fears for the Galatians

8But at that time indeed, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those by nature not being gods. 9But now, having known God, but rather having been known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and destitute principles, to which you desire to be enslaved again anew? 10You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I fear for you, lest perhaps I have toiled for you in vain. 12I implore you, brothers, become as I am, because I also have become as you. You have wronged me in nothing.

13Now you know that in weakness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel the first time to you. 14And of your test in my flesh, you did not despise me nor reject me with contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15What has become then of your blessedness? For I bear witness to you that, if possible, having gouged out your eyes, you would have given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy speaking truth to you?

17They zealously seek you, not rightly. But they desire to isolate you from us, so that you might be zealous after them. 18Now it is good to be zealous in a right thing, at all times and not only in my being present with you.

19My children, of whom I travail again until that Christ shall have been formed in you, 20I was wishing indeed to be present with you presently and to change my tone, because I am perplexed as to you.

Hagar and Sarah

21Tell me, those wishing to be under the Law, do you do not listen to the Law? 22For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one of the slave woman and one of the free. 23But indeed, the one of the slave woman has been born according to flesh, but the one of the free, through the promise, 24which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai, begetting unto slavery, which is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, who is our mother. 27For it has been written:

“Rejoice O barren woman,

the one not bearing;

break forth and call aloud,

the one not travailing;

because many more are the children of the desolate woman

than of her having the husband.”b

28Now you,c brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But just as at that time the one having been born according to flesh was persecuting the one born according to Spirit, so also it is now.

30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will never inherit along with the son of the free.”d 31So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free.