I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different
from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under
guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the
same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the
elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time
had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the
law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent
the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So
you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir
through God.
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those
that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know
God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to
the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose
slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and
seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become
as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a
bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and
though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or
despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you
that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given
them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut
you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be
made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present
with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of
childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present
with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to
the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a
slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was
born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was
born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically:
these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing
children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in
Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in
slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she
is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But
just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh
persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is
now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and
her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the
son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the
slave but of the free woman.
