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Galatians Chapter 4

For context, let's review how Paul ended chapter 3:

Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you{whether Jew or Gentile} as were baptized into Messiah have put on Messiah, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.

In other words, there is no discrimination - no walls between Jew and Gentile. In God's eyes, we who have "put on Messiah" are equally loved, accepted, and blessed. Because of this, "you are Messiah’s" and "you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise."

Galatians 3:29 If you are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.

Now, in chapter 4, Paul expounds further on what it means to be heirs of Abraham, thereby heirs of the promises given to him:

Galatians 4:1-3 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that’s the way it was with us before Messiah came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles{likely a reference to things(not always evil) that detract us from God} of this world.

So, according to Paul, the author of Galatians, what was he referring to when he referenced the "basic spiritual principles of this world"? I think Paul answered that question in the follow passages of scripture, where he used the same Hebrew word (G4747: stoy-khi'-on) =>

Colossians 2:8,20-23 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Messiah. ... 20 You have died with Messiah, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

We see here that the "spiritual principles of this world" are "human teachings" "rather than from Messiah". We will soon see this same word (in red) also used in verse 9... Now, let's go back to verse 3, adding what we have learned =>

Galatians 4:3-4 And that’s the way it was with us before Messiah came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world{"human teachings" because we didn't know Messiah and His teachings}. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law.{Greek: nom'-os - generally considered to be equivalent to the Hebrew word to-raw', which is the first 5 books of the Bible, but sometimes a reference to just the 10 commandments}

Jesus was born "under the law" because He was under the jurisdiction of the law, but not under the condemnation of the law "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin( Hebrews 4:15 )."

We were born "under the law" because we are also under the jurisdiction of the law and also under the condemnation of the law, "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God"( Romans 3:23 ).

Galatians 4:5-6 God sent him{our Messiah} to buy freedom for us who were born under the law,{nom'-os/to-raw'} so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because you are children, God{the Father} sent out the Spirit{the teachings of Christ's mind, which was the teachings of His Father} of his Son into your hearts{into your mind}, crying, “Abba{Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.}, Father!”

Note in verse 4 that "God sent His Son" to be born again by Mary and "dwelt among us"( Jn1:14 ). Then, about 40 days after Jesus went back to Heaven, at Pentecost( Acts2:33 ), "God sent the spirit of His Son", as recorded in verse 6. God didn't send some other sprit, rather He sent the sprit of His Son into our mind. This how we have the mind of Messiah Yeshua.

The spirit of Christ is the "promise of the Father" spoken of by Jesus( John14:26;15:26; Acts1:4 ) and fulfilled at Pentecost after Yeshua returned to Heaven at the right hand of His Father. Here is how Peter explained the promise of Yeshua's Father =>

Acts 2:32-33 This Yeshua God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he{Yeshua} has poured out this which you now see and hear.

Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave{to the to-raw'}, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.

Just as "human teachings" "provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires"(Colossians 2:20-23), the 10 commandments also "provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires". That's not the purpose of the commandments. Rather they are for the purpose of educating us as to what we should do and should not do. They bring us conviction and judgement.

What we really need is "freedom" which Messiah bought for us and even adopted "us as his very own children"( Gal4:4-5 ). He does provide "help in conquering a person’s evil desires". And, that's why "God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts." And, that's why we are each "an heir of God through Messiah."

In John 15:15, Jesus said, "No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you."

This is what is meant by having the mind of Christ. In other words => The teachings of God, through His son. And, being "an heir of God" means that you are princes and princesses!

Galatians 4:8 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.

Have we come to know the "only true God"? =>

Yeshua knows Him => John 17:1-3 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father... 3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

Paul knows Him => 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ... there is no other God but one. 5 For though there are things that are called "gods," whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many "gods" and many "lords;" 6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

And, were we "slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist", such as the trinity?

Galatians 4:9-11 So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? 10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

Some may say those "days, months, seasons, and years" are a reference to "the feasts of Jehovah", as given to Moses in Leviticus 23. However, that can't be. Why, you may ask? Here are two possible reasons =>

    1. The people of Galatia were Gentiles, but those feasts were given to the Jews. So, they could not have gone "back again" to those those things that they never did before.
    2. There were set "days" that were holy days in the torah and there were some special "years", but no months or seasons were set aside, that I know of.

So, what were those "days, months, seasons, and years" that the Galatians went "back" to? Since these were Gentiles that Paul was speaking to they were likely pagan holidays. So apparently, Paul was afraid for them to "go back again" to those "useless spiritual" pagan holidays that they used to observe.

Galatians 4:12-13 I beg you, brothers{likely a reference to both Jews and Gentiles who have accepted our Messiah}, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong{Paul is not offended by them}, 13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

What is this "weakness in the flesh" of Paul? Most likely, Paul's eyes were not very good - likely as a result of being blinded by the glory of Jesus at the time of his conversion ( Acts9:1-6 ). We'll see more about that in verses 14-15.

Galatians 4:14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel{messenger - pastor, in this case, rather than a literal angel} of God, even as Messiah Yeshua{who was also a messenger of God}.

Galatians 4:15-16 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

It would be well for us to consider how we react when someone tells us the truth about something that we don't want to hear. Do we gladly accept the truth as it comes to us? Or, do we tend to hold onto our old ways and/or beliefs when we've been shown the error in our thinking, which we obtained from "false teachers"?

Galatians 4:17-18 Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. 18 If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.

Galatians 4:19 Oh, my dear children!{likely a reference to those who are young in the faith of Messiah, rather than literal children} I feel as if I’m going through labor pains{Paul is having anxiety for these people's spiritual well-being} for you again, and they will continue until Messiah is fully developed in your lives.

Just as Christ has represented His Father to us, we need to mature to the point being Christ's representative to those around us. Peter said, "seeing that [Christ's] divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.( 2 Peter 1:3-4 )"

Ephesians 3:17 that Christ{His teachings} may dwell in your hearts{minds} through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Galatians 4:20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone{perhaps to change the tone of his voice in order to be more-clearly understood}. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

It seems likely that the Galatians were more focused on their works, rather than their faith in Christ.

James 2:18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.

Isaiah 64:6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags...

Galatians 4:21-27 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law{probably a reference to trying to do the right things by our own willpower}, don’t you listen to the law{torah}? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant{Hagar}, and one by the free woman{Sarah}. 23 However, the son{Ishmael} by the servant was born according to the flesh{Abraham's works without faith in the promise}, but the son{Isaac} by the free woman was born through promise{of Jehovah( Gen17:15-17 )}. 24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai{symbolizing the works of the law}, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is{a symbol of} Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above{New Jerusalem of Rev3:12;21:2 that comes down to the new Earth( Is65:17;66:22; 2Pet3:13; Rev21:1 )} is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren{a reference to Sarah who was over 90 years old} who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”{quote from Isaiah54:1-5 }

Galatians 4:28-30 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But as then, he{Ishmael} who was born according to the flesh persecuted him{Isaac} who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”{quoted from Gen21:10-12 }

Genesis 21:10-12 So she{Sarah} turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!” 11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.

Galatians 4:31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant{Hagar}, but of the free woman {Sarah, who is a symbol of the New Jerusalem, in Heaven now, but will descend to the New Earth after the Earth we know now is destroyed}.

2 Peter 3:7-15 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed... 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved...

Revelation 21:1-3 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )

-Sid Nash: 11/16/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/Gal4.html