Paul concluded his allegorical argument by reminding his readers of the very basic and drastic difference between himself and the Galatians , who were children of faith, and the legalists and nomists, who were children of the flesh. [source][source][source]
Paul"s defense of salvation by faith alone (chapters3-4) points out in the strongest terms the incompatibility of faith and works as methods of obtaining justification and sanctification. The Judaizers were trying to get the Galatians to submit to the Mosaic institutions to merit something from God. This approach is antithetic to grace, which acknowledges that people cannot merit God"s favor and simply trusts in God to deliver what He has promised. [source][source][source]
In this passage Paul contrasted faith and works as methods of obtaining God"s favor. Elsewhere he stressed the importance of good works and gave many commands, positive and negative, to guide Christian behavior (e.g, Ephesians 2:8-10). In those passages works express the Christian"s gratitude to God for His grace. They do not make us more acceptable to God or make God love us more than He would if we did not do them. [source][source][source]
What Jesus and the apostles taught about our rewards does not contradict Paul"s emphasis here. We should commit ourselves to Jesus as lord ( Romans 12:1-3) and exercise discipline in our lives. We should do these things so we can earn a reward and receive the maximum inheritance possible when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:27). However we should do so as an expression of our gratitude (cf. Colossians 1:10). We do not need to do so to earn God"s favor or love ( Romans 8:31-39). [source][source][source]
James" emphasis in his epistle was on the importance of living by faith after God has accepted us ( James 2:14-26). Paul"s emphasis in Galatians was on what makes us acceptable to God. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Galatians 4:21-31 - "children Of Promise"
In this allegory of Sarah and Hagar, it is important to notice that Paul is not dealing with the principle of evil within our hearts, but with the attempt to mingle two dispensations or methods of religious experience-the Law and the Gospel.
He says that the poor slave girl, Hagar, whom Abraham bought as a personal attendant for his wife, stands for Mount Sinai, the mountain of the Law, in the district of Arabia, from which she may have originally come. Hagar also stands for the Judaizers, whose headquarters were at Jerusalem, while their emissaries everywhere dogged the Apostle's movements, insisting that his converts must come under the old Levitical ceremonialism. Paul says that the Galatians must choose between their slavish observance of outward ritual and a simple faith in the finished work of Jesus; and exhorts them to cast out Hagar and Ishmael, which savor of the flesh, and to give themselves to the service of the Spirit, which stands for freedom, peace, and joy in God. Let us also guard against a religious scrupulosity and subservience to the outward, and cultivate a quick sensitiveness to the Holy Spirit. [source]
Chapter Summary: Galatians 4
1We were under the law till Christ came, as the heir is under the guardian till he be of age 5But Christ freed us from the law; 7therefore we are servants no longer to it 14Paul remembers the Galatians' good will to him, and his to them; 22and shows that we are the sons of Abraham by the freewoman
Greek Commentary for Galatians 4:31
But of the freewoman [αλλα της ελευτερας] We are children of Abraham by faith (Galatians 3:7). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 4:31
Galatians 5:1With freedom [τηι ελευτεριαι] Rather dative case instead of instrumental, “for freedom,” “for the (article) freedom that belongs to us children of the freewoman” (Galatians 4:31). [source]
What do the individual words in Galatians 4:31 mean?
So thenbrothersnotwe areof [the] slave womanchildrenbutof thefree
Greek Commentary for Galatians 4:31
We are children of Abraham by faith (Galatians 3:7). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 4:31
Rather dative case instead of instrumental, “for freedom,” “for the (article) freedom that belongs to us children of the freewoman” (Galatians 4:31). [source]