GALATIANS 4:28-31 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free
NSB* - This portion of Paul's allegory is based on Genesis 21:9-10. Isaac was continually persecuted by his older brother Ismael. Eventually, Ismael and his mother Hagar were expelled because Ismael had no standing in God's eyes as heir of Abraham. In creating a parallel between the story from Genesis and the Galatians situation, Paul points out that (1) the persecutions by the Jewish legalists of his day was not unexpected, and (2) it would not go on indefinitely because soon the legalists would be cast out.
Isaac; Isaac (i.e. Jitschak), the son of Abraham Derivation: of Hebrew origin. יצחק Isaac = "he laughs" 1. son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau. The Greek word is Ἰσαάκ Isaak. The Hebrew word Isaac is derived from is יצחק yitschâq. Strong's G2464, H3327.
Promise; Thayer denotes - 1) announcement 2) promise 2a) the act of promising, a promise given or to be given 2b) a promised good or blessing. Vine's notes - In Galatians 3:16, the plural "promises" is used because the one "promise" to Abraham was variously repeated (Genesis 12:1-Genesis 12:3; Genesis 13:14-Genesis 13:17; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 17:1-Genesis 17:14; Genesis 22:15-Genesis 22:18), and because it contained the germ of all subsequent "promises;" cp. Romans 9:4; Hebrews 6:12; Hebrews 7:6; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 11:17. Galatians 3 is occupied with showing that the "promise" was conditional upon faith and not upon the fulfillment of the Law. The Law was later than, and inferior to, the "promise," and did not annul it, Galatians 3:21; cp. Galatians 4:23, Galatians 4:28. The Greek word is ἐπαγγελία epaggelia. Strong's G1860.
Definition References: Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 13:14-17 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
Genesis 15:18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates
Genesis 17:1-14 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Genesis 22:15-18 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Romans 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;
Hebrews 6:12 that you do not become [a]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 7:6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
Acts 3:25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Moving to Verse 29.
Galatians 4:29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
Flesh; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such). The Greek word is σάρξ sarx. Strong's G4561.
Persecuted; Thayer denotes - 1) to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away 2) to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after 2a) to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal 2b) to pursue (in a hostile manner) 3) in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one 3a) to persecute 3b) to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something 4) without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone 5) metaph., to pursue 5a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire. The Greek word used here is διώκω diōkō. Strong's G1377.
The Spirit; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. Vine's denotes - In Galatians 4:29 the phrase "after the Spirit" signifies "by supernatural power," in contrast to "after the flesh," i.e., "by natural power," and the reference must be to the "Holy Spirit;" so in Galatians 5:17. The Greek word is πνεῦμα pneuma. Strong's G4151.
Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
Moving to Verse 30 and 31
Galatians 4:30-31 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Cast Out; to eject (literally or figuratively). Dobson denotes - I throw, cast, put out, banish, bring forth, produce I throw (cast, put) out; I banish; I bring forth, produce. The Greek word for cast is ἐκβάλλω ekballō. Strong's G1544.
Heir; to be an heir to (literally or figuratively). Thayer expands - 1) to receive a lot, receive by lot 1a) esp. to receive a part of an inheritance, receive as an inheritance, obtain by right of inheritance 1b) to be an heir, to inherit 2) to receive the portion assigned to one, receive an allotted portion, receive as one's own or as a possession 3) to become partaker of, to obtain. The Greek word is κληρονομέω klēronomeō.
Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Genesis 21:10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.”
Genesis 21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
John 8:35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Takeaway - We are sons and daughters of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who are not of God will be cast out. Not necessarily in this text, but in the end, whatever season of persecution you are enduring will meet its end and God will fulfill His promises.
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