Galatians 4:21-23 NLT

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:22

For it is written ,.... In Genesis 16:15 that Abraham had two sons , not two sons only; for besides the two referred to, he had six more, Genesis 25:2 but it being only pertinent to the apostle's purpose to take notice of these two, he mentions no more, though he does not deny that he had any more. These two sons were Ishmael and Isaac: the one by a bondmaid . Ishmael was by Hagar, Sarah's servant, who represented the covenant the Jewish nation was under the bondage of. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:23

But he who was of the bondwoman ,.... Ishmael, who was begotten and born of Hagar, was born after the flesh ; after the common order and course of nature, through the copulation of two persons, the one able to procreate, and the other fit for the conception of children; and was typical of the Jews, the natural descendants of Abraham, who, as such, and upon that account, were not the children of God, nor heirs of the eternal inheritance: but he of the free woman was by promise ; by a... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:22

For it is written - Viz. in Genesis 16:15 ; Genesis 22:1 , etc., that Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac; the one; Ishmael, by a bond maid, Hagar; the other, Isaac, by a free woman, Sarah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:23

Was born after the flesh - Ishmael was born according to the course of nature, his parents being both of a proper age, so that there was nothing uncommon or supernatural in his birth: this is the proper meaning of the apostle's κατα σαρκα , after or according to the flesh, and answers to the Hebrew phrase, בשר דרך על al derec basar , according to the manner of the flesh, i.e. naturally, according to the common process of nature. By promise - Both Abraham and Sarah had passed that... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:22

Verse 22 22.For it is written. No man who has a choice given him will be so mad as to despise freedom, and prefer slavery. But here the apostle teaches us, that they who are under the law are slaves. Unhappy men! who willingly choose this condition, when God desires to make them free. He gives a representation of this in the two sons of Abraham, one of whom, the son of a slave, held by his mother’s condition; (73) while the other, the son of a free woman, obtained the inheritance. He afterwards... 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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:23

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:23

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:22

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