THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 9, MARCH 31, 2002

“CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON”  

            In last Sunday’s bulletin, the article dealt with the fulfillment of the Old Law and the establishment of the New.  The point was made that no one is under the Old Covenant today, not the Jew and not the Gentile.  All today are bound to respond in obedience to the New Covenant, the New Testament that was ratified with the blood of the Son of God.   

            In this article, I would like to look at an interesting passage in which the same point is made.  I believe that it illustrates how completely God’s hand was in the development of His plan and that the glorious Gospel of the New Testament was always God’s purpose.  The passage is found in Galatians 4:21 –31, and reads as follows:

            “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.  This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia , and corresponds to the present Jerusalem , for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free, she is our mother.  For it is written, ‘Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband.’  And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.  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.  But what does the Scripture say?  ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.  So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”  

            The book of Galatians was written to a predominately Gentile church that was being troubled by certain Jewish Christians.  Those Jewish Christians were teaching a perverted gospel, bringing into it certain aspects of the Law of Moses, such as circumcision, and saying that they were necessary for salvation.  The letter is a powerful denial of the validity of their teaching, as well as a forceful defense of the gospel Paul had presented to them.  In chapter 4, Paul makes the point that if those who sought to be bound by the Old Law had understood the Old Law, they would know that no one was to be under it any longer.  

            Paul’s use of the events surrounding Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, Sarah and Hagar, is striking.  He parallels what happened with them to the difference between the Old and New Covenants to illustrate the principles involved.   Consider the points of comparison.  Abraham is vital in that he was the father of the Jewish race and also the man who was saved by faith and the father of the faithful. (3:6 – 9)  The two women under consideration are Sarah – a freewoman, and Hagar – a bondwoman.  The two sons were Isaac –  the child of promise born to a previously barren Sarah who was pass the age of childbearing, and Ishmael – born after the flesh through the natural laws of procreation by Abraham and Hagar.  

            The allegorical interpretation is found in what Paul, through the Holy Spirit, says the things represent.  Hagar and Sarah represent the two covenants.   Hagar signified the Law of Moses (the Old Covenant) that was given at Mount Sinai .  The Old Law kept a man in bondage to keep that Law perfectly.  In 3:23 , Paul had put it this way, “we were kept in custody under the law,”.  In this way, Paul could write that the Law gave birth to children destined to be slaves.  The Law alone could not give spiritual freedom.  Thus, those seeking salvation through perfect obedience to the Law of Moses could be referred to as “her children” in slavery with her. “Present Jerusalem ”,  stands for earthly Jerusalem , the headquarters of Judaism.   

            Sarah, on the other hand, corresponds to “the Jerusalem above”.  Notice that this Jerusalem is free, and the children of it are free as well; free of the bondage of the Law and the guilt of sin.  It is clear that this “ Jerusalem above”, this “heavenly Jerusalem ”, is the church.  I know this is so from Hebrews 12:22 – 23, which says, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,”.    Those who are in the church, seeking justification through faith in Christ are “children of promise”, comparing to Isaac.  In the comparison, those who were seeking justification through works of the Law of Moses were slaves corresponding to Ishmael.   

            Paul even carries the illustration further.  Just as Ishmael taunted Isaac, the Jews of the first century were persecuting the church.   

            It is important to carry the allegory to its conclusion.  Even though Abraham had been reluctant to drive Hagar and Ishmael away, God told him to do so.  The same point is being made by Paul.  Those Jewish Christians who were perverting the gospel and trying to lead the Galatians astray needed to be “cast out”, clearly identified, not tolerated, withdrawn from.   

            What a wonderful and fascinating way to demonstrate that no one is under the Old Law today!  Do you not marvel at the incredible hand of God as He brings things to fruition as He would have them to be?   

                                                Greg Litmer