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Galatians 4 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
I admit that sometimes I get so caught up in my own wants and needs that I miss the bigger picture. We all tend to gravitate toward a “me first” attitude even if we can’t admit it. Many times what we need is for someone to come along with a reality check. When someone else presents us with a different perspective, what is our response?
After outlining the difference between the imprisonment of the law and the freedom in Christ, Paul connects everything to the bigger picture. It’s as if he is shouting “Don’t miss this!” He uses the analogy of a slave and a son raised in the same household under their father. The slave represents the Gentiles and the son would be the Jews. Both are under the Father, but their relationship to Him is different. The Jews were God’s chosen people. They were heirs to the Kingdom. However, just like a slave, they were still subject to the discipline and guidance of their father. Even though they were heirs, they were still children in need of direction.
In the spiritual sense, Paul points out that all of us were slaves to the world. Our “system” of rules and man-made works did not please or bring glory to God. Both the children and slaves could not really please their father because they were of such low rank in both maturity and spiritual obedience. The condition of slavery was universal. With this perfect set up, he creates a problem that the Jews know deep in their hearts is true. They have failed under the law. But that’s not the end of the story!
When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5 HCSB
Paul is lifting their eyes from the man-made system to the fulfillment of their deepest desires. It’s as if he is saying, “Look! Don’t you see it?” God has been telling a story through His relationship with humanity and it has culminated with Jesus Christ! He is the fulfillment of the law and the perfect sacrifice for all sin!
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:4 HCSB
Jesus not only satisfied the law, but He was subject to the sinful temptations that opposed the law. Paul is outlining two options for Jewish believers. Either you continue in the law, which has historically produced the same results for all people, or, you receive what’s been promised to you as sons and believe in Christ! Because Jesus is the son of God, and He gave Himself up, He is able to transfer that sonship to us. And, because He lived a perfect life and served as the atonement for sin, He is able to redeem those who are enslaved under the law.
What does this mean to you today? It’s not only that your sin has been forgiven and it’s not only that you have been made a son or daughter of God. It’s BOTH! Through grace by faith, we can truly LIVE! This is the good news we can never, ever forget. This is the essence of life. Consider that God the Father turns to us as undeserving slaves and says, “Though you are a slave, I want to give up my Son and make you my son.” Incredible.