The Allegory of Sarah and Hagar
Gal 4:21-31

4-15-07 

In this passage, Paul makes his third defense in this chapter showing why the Galatians should not be back under the law.  He compares Sarah and Isaac with Hagar and Ishmael as allegories to show them the difference between the liberty that is in Christ and the bondage of the law.  Sarah and Isaac typify Christians who enjoy liberty in Christ.  Hagar and Ishmael typify those who are in bondage under the law.

Thus we can see several contrasts between these two women and their children that reveal why it is better to be saved and free than it is to be under the law and in bondage.  Notice the differences:

Sarah

Hagar

·         Freewoman – Sarah was Abraham’s half sister, Gen 20:12; salvation in Jesus Christ makes us free, Jn 8:32, 36

·         Bondmaid – Hagar was an Egyptian maid to Sarah, Gen 16:1-3, 15; Egypt was called the house of bondage, Deut 5:6

 

·         Child of Promise – The promise that Abraham would have a son was through Sarah, Gen 17:15-19; Rom 4:13-21 [13, 14, 16, 20, 21]

·         Child of the flesh – Sarah convinced Abraham to go in unto Hagar; God’s promise that Abraham would have a child was not through this woman

 

·         New Covenant – under the New Covenant , we are made children of God without having to do the works of the law to become children or to stay children; Jn 1:12; Rom 8:15-16

·         Old Covenant – since the law puts a man under bondage to do all the that is in the law, Hagar, the bondmaid, makes a good example of the law, Rom 8:15; Gal 5:1; keeping the law does not make one a child of God

 

·         Mt Zion in heaven – it is upon this mountain that the heavenly saints worship God, Ps 48:1-2; Rev 14:1-3; Heb 12:22-24

·         Mt Sinai In Arabia – it is from this mountain that God gave Israel the law, Ex 19:21-23; 20; the law was to them a yoke that they could not bear, Acts 15:10; Rom 3:19-20

 

·         New Jerusalem – this is the heavenly city in which we will reside in eternity,  Rev 21 – you have to be a child of God to be in this city

·         Jerusalem in Israel – this is the city that was destroyed and taken captive by Nebuchad- nezzar and by Titus.  It is a city in bondage despite what the Pharisees said in Jn 8:33

 

·         Isaac, Abraham’s seed –  Jesus Christ is Abraham’s seed by promise [Gal 3:16], thus, we are children of God, and Abraham’s children, by faith in Jesus Christ, Rom 4:11-13

 

·         Ishmael persecuted Isaac – those who are in bondage to the law persecute those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, Jn 15:20; 1 Thes 2:14-15; Acts 7:52

·         Isaac received the inheritance, Gen 25:5 – through Jesus Christ we become heirs, Gal 3:18; Rom 8:16-17

·         Bondwoman cast out – because her son was not to be heir with Isaac

 

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