Galatians
Chapter 4: 21-31
Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me,
you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave
woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave
woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result
of a promise.
24These
things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is
from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to
the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
"Be glad, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have no labor pains;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband."
28Now you,
brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time
the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is
the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? "Get
rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the
inheritance with the free woman's son." 31Therefore,
brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
