GALATIANS CHAPTER 4 (4 OF 6)
Scripture: Galatians 4:1-31
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Galatians Chapter 4 (4 of 6)
Series: Galatians
Harley Howard
Galatians 4
1 Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
In chapter three, Paul had shown the Galatians that believers in the gospel were the true children of Abraham; that they had been delivered from the curse of the law; that the law was a schoolmaster to lead them to Christ, and that they were all the children of God. He illustrated this further and showed them the true nature of the freedom which they had as the children of God in this chapter. Paul began by reminded the Galatian believers of certain characteristics of an heir as a minor child (infant, young child). The child was no different than the servant in this respect, that the child, though heir by birthright, owned the whole estate. Any heir to an estate, or one who had a prospect of an inheritance, no matter how great was the estate; no matter how wealthy his father; no matter to how elevated a rank he may be raised, on the moment that he enters on his inheritance; yet until he came of age, he was in the condition of a servant; that is, he has no control of his property; it is not at his command, but in regard to property, he does not differ, and he is like a servant, under the control and direction of others. Why? Because he was a child; an infant. He was kept in subservience like a slave in that he enjoyed no freedom and could make no decisions. In fact the heir as a child was under guardians, who watched over his person and trustees, who protected his estate. This was true, until he came of age as a son, an age that varied in the Jewish, Grecian, and Roman societies.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
All the world, as we saw already in our study, was shut up to sin. The law was God’s killing tool in that it r ...
Series: Galatians
Harley Howard
Galatians 4
1 Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
In chapter three, Paul had shown the Galatians that believers in the gospel were the true children of Abraham; that they had been delivered from the curse of the law; that the law was a schoolmaster to lead them to Christ, and that they were all the children of God. He illustrated this further and showed them the true nature of the freedom which they had as the children of God in this chapter. Paul began by reminded the Galatian believers of certain characteristics of an heir as a minor child (infant, young child). The child was no different than the servant in this respect, that the child, though heir by birthright, owned the whole estate. Any heir to an estate, or one who had a prospect of an inheritance, no matter how great was the estate; no matter how wealthy his father; no matter to how elevated a rank he may be raised, on the moment that he enters on his inheritance; yet until he came of age, he was in the condition of a servant; that is, he has no control of his property; it is not at his command, but in regard to property, he does not differ, and he is like a servant, under the control and direction of others. Why? Because he was a child; an infant. He was kept in subservience like a slave in that he enjoyed no freedom and could make no decisions. In fact the heir as a child was under guardians, who watched over his person and trustees, who protected his estate. This was true, until he came of age as a son, an age that varied in the Jewish, Grecian, and Roman societies.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
All the world, as we saw already in our study, was shut up to sin. The law was God’s killing tool in that it r ...
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