Galatians 04:21-31 The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah

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Text: Galatians 4:21-31

Introduction

1. In the first four chapters of Galatians, Paul defends

a. His apostleship as being from God, not man – Galatians 1-2

b. His gospel of justification by faith in Christ, not by the Law of Moses – Galatians 3-4

2. In defending the gospel of justification by faith in Christ, Paul makes five arguments

a. Personal argument – the Galatians’ own experience – Galatians 3:1-5

b. Scriptural argument – the testimony of the Old Testament – Galatians 3: 6-25

c. Practical argument – how one becomes a son and heir of God – Galatians 3: 26-4:7

d. Sentimental argument – appealing to their relationship with Paul – Galatians 4:8-20

e. Allegorical argument – using Hagar and Sarah as an illustration – Galatians 4:21-31

3. In this study, we will consider Paul’s allegorical argument

a. “Allegory” comes from Greek allos (other) and agoreuein (to speak in public)

b. An allegory is “a figurative representation conveying a meaning other than and in addition to the literal”

4. It is important to note

a. Paul does not deny the actual historical narrative, but he simply uses it in an allegorical sense to illustrate his point for the benefit of his readers who are tempted to go under the burden of the law” – Robertson’s Word Pictures

b. The apostle gives an allegorical interpretation to the historical narrative of Hagar and Sarah, not treating that narrative as an allegory in itself

Body

I. THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

A. SARAH AND HAGAR

1. Sarah, who is barren, has a handmaiden named Hagar – Genesis 16:1

2. Sarah gives Hagar to Abraham to bear a child in her place – Genesis 16:2-3

3. Hagar conceives and despises her mistress Sarah – Genesis 16:4

4. Sarah deals harshly with Hagar – Genesis 16:5-6

5. Hagar returns to Sarah, and bears Ishmael – Genesis 16:7-16

B. ISHMAEL AND ISAAC

1. God promises that Sarah will have a son – Genesis 17:15-17

2. God confirms the covenant will be through Isaac, not Ishmael – Genesis 17:18-21

3. Sarah bears Isaac as God promised – Genesis 21:1-8

4. Sarah has Abraham send Hagar away – Genesis 21:9-14

II. PAUL’S APPLICATION

A. PAUL REVIEWS THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

1. Abraham had two sons – Galatians 4:21-22a

2. One (Ishmael) by a slave woman (Hagar) – Galatians 4:22b

3. One (Isaac) by a free woman (Sarah) – Galatians 4:22b

4. The son of the slave was born of the flesh – Galatians 4:23a

a. Ishmael’s conception was natural

b. When Abraham went into Hagar

5. The son of the free woman was born through promise – Galatians 4:23b

a. Isaac’s conception was by God’s power – Hebrews 11:11-12

b. As promised by God – Genesis 21:1-2

B. PAUL APPLIES THE ALLEGORICAL ELEMENTS

1. The two women are two covenants – Galatians 4:24-27

a. Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia, bearing children for slavery

1) She corresponds to present Jerusalem

2) She is in slavery with her children

b. Sarah represents Jerusalem above, those who are free

1) She corresponds to heaven (the New Jerusalem)

2) She is ‘our mother’ (those in Christ)

3) She who was barren is no longer desolate

2. Those in Christ are like Isaac – Galatians 4:28-31

a. They too are children of promise

b. They too have been persecuted

1) Ishmael (born of the flesh) persecuted Isaac (born according to promise)

2) Judaizing teachers (born of the flesh) persecuted Christians (born according to the Spirit)

c. The Scriptures tell what will be the end

1) The son of the slave woman (i.e., Judaizing teachers)

2) Will not inherit with the son of the free woman

d. Those in Christ

1) Are children of the free woman (heaven above)

2) Are not of the slave (present Jerusalem, with the Law of Moses)

Conclusion

1. Thus Paul illustrates why the Galatians should not heed the Judaizing teachers

a. It would be a return to slavery (to the Law of Moses)

b. It would be turning their back on the Spirit who conceived them – Titus 3:5-7

c. It would be turning away from the promises of heaven – Hebrews 12: 22-25

2. Our threat today might not be from Judaizing teachers

a. But there are those who would have us turn away from Christ

1) Voices in the world

2) False religions

3) False Brethren

b. The end result would be the same

1) A return to slavery – cf. John 8:31-34

2) Falling short of receiving the promises – Hebrews 4: 11

3. Only by remaining in Christ can we be the free children of promise, with Jerusalem above as our true mother…! – Revelation 2:10c

Hebrews 11:11 “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrews 11:12 “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.”

Hebrews 4:11 “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

Revelation 2:10 “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”