Galatians 4:21 – Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said,

“Rejoice, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into a joyful shout,
you who have never been in labor!
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband!”28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman. (NLT)   

When I read this passage recently, I was reminded of an event that happened many years ago.  I had to appear in court with my seventeen year old son for a traffic violation.  What an interesting morning!  As we sat in the courtroom we had to wait through about 20 cases before my son’s case was heard.  It was a sad experience to watch families in crisis, some of which were feuding amongst themselves.  Even though the court was there to provide justice under the law, the atmosphere was heavy.  The law is the law, and a violation of the law must be dealt with according to the law.

Paul asks in verse 21: “Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says?”  It’s apparent that in our land, many don’t know what the law actually says!  Just as we are judged under the law of our land, if we choose to live under God’s law then we will be judged under God’s law.  God’s law was given so that the people could be right with God.  By the time that Jesus walked the earth, it should have been clear to those who were trying to live under God’s law that it just wasn’t working for them.  Yet, here we are two thousand years later, and many Christians are still trying to be made right with God by obeying religious laws!

By paying for our sins (which is breaking God’s law), Jesus has set us free.  In court, my son and I experienced a heavy atmosphere.  With God, we can experience joy instead!  Our violation of God’s law has been dealt with through the cross.  We are set free from any heaviness with God.  Paul says it best as he sums up this passage in Galatians 5:1 – “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law”. 

Let there be no heaviness of heart in our relationship with God this day.  Let us approach God joyfully, knowing that we have been set free!   

Posted by Ramón Torres