Galatians 4
1 I mean that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, even though he owns everything.
2 He is under guardians and managers until the time set by his father.
3 In the same way, when we were children, we were enslaved to the basic principles of the world.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.
5 He did this to redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.
8 But at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9 But now that you know God—or rather, are known by God—how can you turn back again to those weak and poor principles and want to be enslaved to them all over again?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I fear for you; I fear that I may have labored for you in vain.
12 Become like me, because I also became like you, brothers and sisters; I ask you. You have done me no wrong.
13 You know that it was because of a bodily weakness that I first preached the gospel to you.
14 And though my condition was a trial for you, you did not despise me or turn away from me in disgust. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15 Where, then, is your happiness? I can testify that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are eager to win you over, but not for your good. They want to shut you out, so that you will be eager for them.
18 It is good to be eagerly sought for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am with you.
19 My children, I am again in labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.
20 I wish I could be with you right now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the Law: do you not hear what the Law says?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
23 The son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but the son of the free woman was born through the promise.
24 These things are being spoken allegorically, for the women represent two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, is Hagar.
25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
27 For it is written: “Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth; break into joyful shouts, you who are not in labor; for the children of the abandoned woman are many, more than those of the woman who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
29 But just as then the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now.
30 But what does Scripture say? “Drive out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will certainly not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31 So, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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