Galatians 4:21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

In these verses the apostle illustrates the difference between believers who rested in Christ only and those judaizers who trusted in the law, by a comparison taken from the story of Isaac and Ishmael. This he introduces in such a manner as was proper to strike and impress their minds, and to convince them of their great weakness in departing from the truth, and suffering themselves to be deprived of the liberty of the gospel: Tell me, says he, you that desire to be under the law, do you not... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:21-31

4:21-31 Tell me this--you who want to be subject to the law, you listen to it being read to you, don't you? Well, then, it stands written in it that Abraham had two sons; one was the son of the slave girl and one was the son of the free woman. But the son of the slave girl was born in the ordinary human way, whereas the son of the free woman was born through a promise. Now these things are an allegory. For these two women stand for two covenants. One of these covenants--the one which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:21

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law ,.... Not merely to obey it, as holy, just, and good, from a principle of love, and to testify subjection and gratitude to God; so all believers desire to bc under the law: but these men sought for justification and salvation by their obedience to it: they desired to be under it as a covenant of works, which was downright madness and folly to the last degree, since this was the way to come under the curse of it; they wanted to be under the yoke of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:21

Ye that desire to be under the law - Ye who desire to incorporate the Mosaic institutions with Christianity, and thus bring yourselves into bondage to circumcision, and a great variety of oppressive rites. Do ye not hear the law? - Do ye not understand what is written in the Pentateuch relative to Abraham and his children. It is evident that the word law is used in two senses in this verse. It first means the Mosaic institutions; secondly, the Pentateuch, where the history is recorded to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:21

Verse 21 21.Tell me. Having given exhortations adapted to touch the feelings, he follows up his former doctrine by an illustration of great beauty. Viewed simply as an argument, it would not be very powerful; but, as a confirmation added to a most satisfactory chain of reasoning, it is not unworthy of attention. To be under the law, signifies here, to come under the yoke of the law, on the condition that God will act toward you according to the covenant of the law, and that you, in return,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the Law ( λέγετέ μοι οἱ ὑπὸ νόμον θέλοντες εἶναι ). After the outburst of affectionate earnestness expressed in the last four verses, the apostle seems to have paused, reflecting in what way he could the most effectually convince these Galatian legalists of their error. At length, a consideration occurs to him, which he impetuously so to speak hastens to abruptly sot before them. He has before ( Galatians 3:29 ) shown to the Galatian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21-23

An appeal to Bible history. "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the Law, do ye not hear the Law?" The apostle makes a fresh appeal to convince the Galatians of the essential difference between the Law and the promise. The reasoning is conveyed in language of affectionate remonstrance. Consider— I. THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS ARGUMENT . The Law itself, upon which the Galatians laid such stress, showed that they were not meant to be under it. If he could prove from the Law of Moses... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

The allegory of Hagar. Writing to men who were unduly subservient to the Jewish Law, St. Paul clenches his argument with an appeal to what he regards as the typical meaning of the history contained in that very Law. This was an argumentum ad homines. It is important, when possible, to convince men on their own ground. Among believers in Scripture, arguments are naturally drawn from Scripture, Only it is necessary to bear in mind that there are different "views ' of Scripture; so that we... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:21

Tell me ... - In order to show fully the nature and the effect of the Law, Paul here introduces an illustration from an important fact in the Jewish history. This allegory has given great perplexity to expositors, and, in some respects, it is attended with real difficulty. An examination of the difficulties will be found in the larger commentaries. My object, without examining the expositions which have been proposed, will be to state, in as few words as possible, the simple meaning and design... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:21-23

Galatians 4:21-23. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law Of Moses, as the rule of your justification; do ye not hear the law? Regard what it says? how it teaches that Abraham’s children, by faith, who are heirs of the promises, are free from the bondage of the law? “The argument the apostle is going to use being taken from the law of Moses, was urged with much propriety, not only against the Judaizers, who affirmed that obedience to the law of Moses was necessary to men’s salvation,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:21-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:21-23

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