GALATIANS ~ Chapter 4/Thursday Bible Study

In Galatians Chapter 4, Apostle Paul is trying again to make the Galatians understand that salvation is a gift from *Elohei Ha’Elohim to those who believe in – and accept – the redemption through His Son, **Yeshua Ha’Mashiach; salvation is not a reward based on strictly following The Law, which keeps people in bondage of sin’s grasp.

Before Christ (Yeshua Ha’Mashiach), humanity as it were, was spiritually immature; thereby subject to the rudimentary teaching of The Law.

Paul is explaining here that the battle raging between legalistic bondage, and spiritual freedom, springs up as immature Believers experience the pull of old habits calling out to fleshly natures. As we grow in our walk of faith, and draw closer to Yeshua, our spirit becomes stronger and leans into a covenant relationship – allowing the ***Ruach HaKo’desh to guide and teach us how we are to live as sons and daughters of Elohei Ha’Elohim: sin no longer has us under bondage. We overcome the world, and the pull of the flesh, to live more fully and freely for Yeshua.

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GALATIANS ~ Chapter 4/Thursday Bible Study

Bondage Under Law vs. Freedom Under Christ

“Again, let me illustrate: as long as an heir is a child, he is no different than a slave, even though he will become master of the whole estate. He is placed under guardianship until the date set by his father. So it is with us. When we were children, we were like slaves learning the elements of world knowledge. Then came the fullness of time. ****Elohim sent forth His Son. He was born of a virgin woman. He was born under The Law. He came to ransom (redeem, rescue, deliver, restore, liberate) those who were under The Law, to make us His children by adoption. And because we are His, Elohim has sent the Ruach of His Son into our hearts to make us cry, “Father, O Father!” Thus, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and also an heir, through Yeshua. (vv. 1-7)

The Danger of Return to Bondage

Formerly, when you did not know Elohim, you were enslaved under ‘gods’ that really did not exist. But now, after you have learned to know Elohim – or rather – after Elohim came to know you as His own, how can you turn back again to the weak and helpless elemental false gods, whose slaves you want to be once more? And therefore, you observe days, months, seasons, and years! I am afraid, on your account, that I may have donated my labor on you in vain. (vv. 8-11)

Their Former Fellowship & Present Indifference

Brethren, I beg of you that you become like me, just as I became like one of you. You did me no wrong. You remember that I was not well when I first preached the *****Gospel to you? And, though my trouble was a trial to you, you did not despise me or reject me in contempt. Rather, you received me as an angel of Elohim, as Christ Himself. What has become of your blessed good will? I can testify to this, that there was a time when you would have plucked out your own eyes, if possible, and would have given them to me.

Because I tell you the truth, have I made enemies of you? There are some who pay much attention, but for no good purpose. What they desire is to exclude you from me, that you may become zealous about them. It is always a fine thing to have people interested in you, if it is for the right cause; and not only when I am going to be with you. I think of you as my own little children, with whom I am again in pains of childbirth until Christ shall be formed in you! How I wish I could be present with you right now, and could change the tone of my voice, for I am truly perplexed about you. (vv. 12-20)

The Allegory of Isaac & Ishmael

Now tell me, you who want The Law as your master, have you not read what The Law says? Scripture tells that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave woman, and one by a free woman. The son of the slave was born in a natural way; the son of the free woman came because of Elohim’s promise. This story can be allegorized: let the two women represent the two Covenants (Contract Promises). Hagar stands for the Old Covenant, which comes to us from Mt. Sinai. She bears children to be slaves under The Law. Hagar is, in other words, Mt. Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds also to the Jerusalem of today, and both she and her children are in slavery.

But our mother is the Jerusalem above, a city of freedom. Remember what Scripture said, ‘Rejoice, O childless woman, who has never given birth! Shout with joy, you who have had no birth pangs! For the deserted woman has more children than the woman who has a husband’ (Isaiah 54:1). Brethren, we are like Isaac, children of Promise. And it is now as then. The son who was born according to the course of nature persecutes the son born according to the Ruach, now as then. What does Scripture say about it? It says, ‘Send away the slave-woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall in no wise divide the inheritance with the son of the free woman’ (Genesis 21:10).

Brethren, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free. (vv. 21-31).

*Elohei Ha’Elohim (Hebrew word: אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים)) = God of gods; above all gods.

**Yeshua Ha’Mashiach: is Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah”; the name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua.

Christ (from the Hebrew word, Ha’Mashiach ישוע המשיח & the Greek word, Christos/khris-tos) = The Anointed, Yeshua the Messiah, in both languages.

***Ruach HaKo’desh: In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit (רוח הקודש, Roo-ahk hah-Koh-desh) refers to the divine force, quality, and influence (aka, power) of God.

The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16 & 11:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Titus 3:5; and Jude 1:20), is referred to more than 90 times in the Brit Chadashah.

B’rit Chadashah = The New Testament. B’rit Chadashah in Hebrew, means, “The New Covenant” (the word B’rit means “covenant” and Chadashah means “new”). The literal meaning of B’rit Chadashah is “a New Covenant By Blood” … aka Yeshua’s Blood.

****Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, romanized: ʾĚlōhīm: [(eloˈ(h)im]) is a Hebrew word meaning "Gods – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit". Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity “Behold, the Lord – the Lord is One”, particularly the at God of Israel.

*****Gospel = teaching or revelation of Christ.

**Galatians 3: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/07/galatians-chapter-3thursday-bible-study.html