Chapter 4

1Here is what I mean: As long as an heir is still a child, he is no different from an enslaved person, even though the whole estate belongs to him.

2Instead, he remains under guardians and estate managers until the date his father has set.

3In the same way, when we were like children, we were enslaved to the basic powers that govern this world.

4But when the appointed time had fully arrived, God sent his Son. He was born to a woman and born under the law,

5so that he could buy the freedom of those under the law and we could be adopted as God’s children.

6Because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. The Spirit calls out, “Father—our Father!”

7So you are no longer an enslaved person but God’s child. And if you are his child, God has also made you an heir.

8In the past, when you did not know God, you served things that are not really gods at all.

9But now you know God—or rather, God knows you. So how can you turn back again to those powerless and impoverished forces? Do you want to become enslaved to them all over again?

10You carefully observe certain days, months, seasons, and years.

11I am afraid for you. Perhaps all my work among you has been wasted.

12Brothers and sisters, I beg you: become like me, because I also became like you. You did me no wrong.

13You know that it was because of a physical illness that I first announced the good news about Jesus to you.

14Although my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise me or reject me in disgust. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were God’s messenger—even as if I were Jesus the Messiah, God’s Anointed One, himself.

15What has become of the happiness you felt then? I can assure you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me.

16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17Those people are eager to win you over, but their purpose is not good. They want to shut you out so that you will eagerly pursue them.

18It is good to be eagerly sought after when the purpose is good. That should be true all the time, not only when I am there with you.

19My children, once again I am suffering labor pains for you until the Messiah is formed in you.

20I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I do not know what to make of you.

21Tell me, you who want to live under the law: do you not listen to what the law itself says?

22Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by an enslaved woman and one by a free woman.

23The enslaved woman’s son was born by ordinary human means, but the free woman’s son was born because of God’s promise.

24This story can be understood symbolically. These women represent two binding agreements between God and people. One agreement comes from Mount Sinai and produces children for slavery; this is represented by Hagar.

25Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because Jerusalem and her children are in slavery.

26But the Jerusalem above—the heavenly Jerusalem—is free, and she is our mother.

27For Scripture says, “Celebrate, woman unable to have children, you who are not giving birth! Burst into a joyful shout, you who have never felt labor pains! For the abandoned woman has more children than the woman who has a husband.”

28Now you, brothers and sisters, are children born because of God’s promise, just as Isaac was.

29But at that time, the son born by ordinary human means persecuted the son born through God’s Spirit. The same thing is happening now.

30But what does Scripture say? “Throw out the enslaved woman and her son, because the enslaved woman’s son will certainly not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

31So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the enslaved woman but of the free woman.