verse 21: Why would they want to be back under the law? Because rules and formulae are easier than living by faith. Also, they were being swayed by peer pressure. They didn't understand the implications of the New Covenant as prophecied in the Old Covenant.
| Old Covenant | New Covenant |
| Law | Grace |
| Hagar the Slave | Sarah the Freewoman |
| Ishmael, born by flesh | Isaac, born miraculously |
| Jerusalem on earth in slavery | Jerusalem above is free |
Isaac represent believers because he was born by the Spirit, he brought Joy, he grew, was weaned, and was persecuted.
Judaizers thought they could be more spiritual by returning to the Law.
Hagar as "Type" of the Law. The Law was added later than the promise and was meant to be temporary. Th Law was meant to be a servant to lead us to see and accept the promise. The Law was not meant to be a mother and have descendants. When it did, the child was also a slave. The Law would need to be cast out so it would not share inheritance with the free child.
Return to index of Lynellen's content.