"Be telling me, the [ones] under law wanting to be, the law are you not hearing? For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one out of the maid-servant and one out of the free. But rather on the one hand the [one] out of the maidservant out of flesh has been begotten, but on the other hand the [one] out of the free through a promise...which it is speaking allegorically. For these are two covenants, on the one hand one from Mount Sinai begetting unto slavery, which is Hagar. But Hagar [is] the Mount Sinai it is in the Arabia. But it is corresponding to the now Jerusalem, For she is slave-serving with her children. But on the other hand, the above Jerusalem is free, which is our mother. For it has been written, ‘Be rejoiced, barren woman the [one] not having children, burst out and cry out, the [one] not being in labor, since many [are] the children of the desolate more than the [one] having a husband.’ But you [all], brothers, according to Isaac children of promise you are. But rather just as then the [one] being born according to flesh was persecuting the [one] according to Spirit, thus also now. But rather what is the Scripture saying? 'Throw out the maidservant and her son. For not in no way will the son of the maidservant inherit with the son of the promise.' Therefore, brothers, we are not sons of [the] maidservant but rather of the free."
-A lengthy passage this, but best taken in its entirety.
-This entire letter Paul has been contrasting the two approaches to God, the newer approach of faith in His Son Jesus, and the more traditional Jewish approach of obeying the law to the best of one’s ability, the exact same approach which the Judaizers were foisting upon these young Galatian believers. So Paul here points out that the very law to which these believers are now beginning to listen in fact tells them that, even before the law was given, before Israel was born, there were two approaches, two very different polar-opposite approaches to God.
-Father Abraham has (had) two sons, issuing forth from two mothers - one mother was a slave, and the other was free. This is Hagar vs Sarah - a real live spiritual smackdown. These two mothers give us two sons, metaphors for the two bases of approach, two modes, two fountains, if you will (flesh and faith), which are tied to two covenants (the law, fully delivered later at Mt Sinai, and the promise, made to Abraham and Isaac). And there are two corresponding Jerusalems as well (old and new). One wife/son/covenant/jerusalem combo - the first one, corresponding to Hagar and Ishmael - is in bondage. Servitude. Slavery. All who are born under law, or who are living under it by their own free will, are slaves. Like Abra(ha)m with Hagar, their approach to God is based on the flesh, on fleshy effort, and on slavish obligation to observe the law in order to try and find favor with Him. The other approach, corresponding to Sarah and Isaac, is freedom. The freedom of full forgiveness. The freedom of grace and of righteousness fulfilled, of in God’s eyes having done everything right. It is freedom to enjoy relationship and acceptance and favor instead of having to constantly try and earn it. It is the joyous freedom of faith, of enjoying the fruits of promise made by the original Promise Keeper. The law itself, the teachings of the Torah, teaches this truth - listen and pay attention, he says. Which approach would you rather have, slavery or freedom? Whose child would you rather be, Hagar or Sarah?
-Paul then points out that just as that first child of the free woman was mocked and mistreated by the child of the slave, so also the spiritual children of the slave were continuing to mistreat the spiritual children of the free woman in Paul’s day, as they do still today. Judaizers, legalists, those enslaved to works of law in various forms - the default position of man, of the world, is that of trying to work one’s way to God, working to try and earn His favor and acceptance, and that of falling short. The Good News of forgiveness thru faith alone in Christ alone is a game-changer, game-changing good news to some, a pleasing fragrant aroma, but to many others it is a death-dealing drug, a rancid stench in their nostrils (2Corinthians 2.14-16). It is too far askew from their works orientation, from their religious understanding and tradition. Even tho their rusty old bucket of bolts can’t get off the ground, they are remiss to throw it off for this newfangled teaching. Their approach may not work (and of this fact they are most likely ignorant), but it’s all they know. It’s what their parents taught them. It’s how they grew up. And their response is to reject this new Message along with the messenger (don’t take it personally!), to ostracize or mistreat him or her, to convince and coerce even the messenger somehow to get (back) under the law, into their religious tradition, and, really, into bondage. But in the end, they have no inheritance with the children of the promise. Cast them out, Paul says. Cast their teaching out of mind. If they are willing to come to Jesus, by all means, bring them in, but why would children of the free woman ever consider becoming slaves? Paul says, we are not slaves. We are not children of a slave woman. We are children of promise, justified and made right with God by grace through faith. We are sons and daughters of Sarah - and Abraham. Through faith - not through any works. Never forget this! Live into this! Next verse...
No comments:
Post a Comment