Galatians Part 9 | Chapter 4:21-5:1

Last updated on Apr 20, 2026

Freedom We Have in Christ | Galatians 4:21–5:1

Read Galatians 4:21–5:1

The Illustration of Hagar and Sarah

Paul, continuing his discussion of the differences between being under the law and being under grace, uses an illustration from the Old Testament story of what took place between Abraham, Hagar and Sarah. In this historical event Abraham had a child with both women, however only one was of God — bringing about the child of promise.

Hagar represents slavery to the law, while Sarah represents the promise — which is grace and freedom.

Paul uses this as an illustration to further differentiate being under the law and being under grace. The entire story is a longer way of describing the truth and realization that Paul gives us in 5:1 — that we have freedom in Christ.

Allegory or Illustration?

Depending on your translation, verse 24 may say "allegorically" (ESV and NASB) or use words like "illustrations" or "symbolic." The Greek word is "allegoroumena," which is correctly translated as "allegorically," however the intended meaning is not the same. A true allegory is a fictional story used to convey a fact or truth — the story of Abraham and Sarah was of course not fictional, and Paul certainly didn't imply that it was. This is why many translations substitute a word to convey the correct sense so as not to bring confusion to the reader.

Hagar and Slavery Under the Law

Hagar and her child (Ishmael) represent slavery under the law. We see the two sons of Abraham contrasted by the circumstances in which they came into the world.

Abraham knew God had promised him a son and thought that since Sarah was barren, he would take matters into his own hands to fulfill God's promise. He took Hagar and bore a son, Ishmael. However, as the Scriptures tell us, Ishmael was born according to the flesh — which means of sin. It was not of God for Abraham to do this; Abraham sinned by not trusting God (lack of faith) and doing something outside the will of God.

Paul uses Mount Sinai as a symbol for the law — fitting, as that is where Moses received the ten commandments. This is also where the descendants of Ishmael settled. Hagar is also an illustration of slavery because she herself was a slave of Sarah's.

Hagar represents the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage to the law. The Jewish people were in bondage to the law and had to bear its weight. This is what they were still struggling with — they were slaves to the law and trying to obtain salvation through it, which was impossible. So present-day Jerusalem was still forcing itself to live as a slave to the law.

As the descendants of Ishmael (Arabs) persecuted Isaac (Jews), so now there is still persecution brought by the Judaizers and the unbelievers of the world. There was and still is persecution of Jews and Christians in the world today by the lost.

Paul is conveying that to live under the law as a way for salvation is to live under it as a yoke of slavery. The Judaizers saw the law as a way of salvation and its requirements as something they could meet — but of course they could never do so. They were missing the purpose of the law, which was to reveal our sin and show that we need a Savior. They were as slaves to the law — always under a heavy burden they could never fully bear themselves.

Slavery to the law as a way of salvation was the will of man, not of God. God never intended slavery to the law as a way of salvation — this was what man had desired. Just as Ishmael was born out of the will of man, so was salvation through the law. They saw salvation as something they could earn through their own good deeds, their own good works, their own power, their own abilities. Salvation by our works is impossible.

The yoke of slavery under the requirements and penalty of the law is a heavy burden. Paul said not to submit to the yoke of slavery, because this is the effect of one who ignores the grace of God and seeks salvation through the requirements of the law. The law will only continue to serve its purpose — which is to reveal one's sin, showing a continued "spiritual bankruptcy." That they have failed to keep God's holy and righteous commands and are therefore burdened under the guilt. If this is all one has, then the burden of one's sins and its punishment are severe, and one becomes a slave to it.

This is a yoke so burdensome that no one can bear it.

Acts 15:10 — "Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?"

No one can live a perfect life, no one can live without sin or do anything on their own to redeem themselves from the penalty of the law.

Martin Luther's experiences give us an idea of what living a life as a slave to the law can be like. Before he understood what it meant to be saved by faith, he lived his life for works to please God. His response can be seen in his later writings, where he recounted events from his earlier life.

Martin Luther — 1545, Wittenberg, Germany: "Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, 'As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments), without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!' Thus I raged with a fierce and troubled conscience."

In this passage Luther revealed the struggles and burden he had while trying to live a "perfect" life for God. He realized he could not do it and he was angry with God. Later though he realized that salvation did not come through works, but through faith in Christ — and this changed his life forever, also helping give birth to the Protestant Reformation.

Romans 1:17 — "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith."

Martin Luther — 1545, Wittenberg, Germany: "Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates."

The law must not take the place of Christ. Paul did not want them to put the law in place of Christ. The law, as we have studied, is holy and good and has a significant purpose — but it does not take the place of our faith in Christ.

💬 Discussion Questions

What might it look like for us today if we are putting ourselves under the yoke of slavery — under the law — if we are concerned only with the legalistic requirements?
If you yoke yourself to living in perfect obedience to the law, will you feel freedom or slavery?

Sarah, Isaac and the Promise of Freedom

In contrast to Hagar and Ishmael, the child (Isaac) who came through Sarah was from God — the promised child who was in the will of God. Ishmael was conceived by human will and desire; Isaac was conceived because of the will and desire of God.

Isaac was a miracle — his birth was only made possible by the grace and mercy of God. It was only possible because Sarah and Abraham had faith in God.

Hebrews 11:11 — "By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised."

Because of Christ We Have Freedom

Galatians 5:1 (HCSB) — "Christ has liberated us to be free..."

Unlike one who is burdened by the law and has become a slave to it, in Christ — being under His grace — we have freedom.

We are free from the burden of sin. When we see the law and the commandments of God, our sins are revealed to us. This sin, when we realize it, shows the burden it puts on us — we see that we cannot save ourselves from our transgressions. But with faith in Christ that burden is lifted. He has forgiven our sins and we are made free.

Romans 8:1–2 — "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

Acts 13:38–39 — "Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses."

We are free from the guilt. Guilt comes because of our sins and we can all attest to the burden we feel from it. But with forgiveness from Christ this burden is removed.

Isaiah 6:7 — "And he touched my mouth and said: Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."

We are free now to live a life for Christ as His servant — to pursue righteousness.

Romans 6:22 — "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."

Being free does not mean that we live a life of sin doing what we want — it means we live our lives for Christ as His faithful servants.

1 Peter 2:16 — "Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."

Galatians 5:13 — "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

The Yoke of Christ Is Easy and the Burden Is Light

In stark contrast to the burden of the yoke of slavery to the law, we find that the yoke of Christ is quite different.

Matthew 11:28–30 — "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

The results of putting our faith and trust in Christ relieves the heavy burden of sin.

💬 Discussion Questions

What does it mean to you to have freedom in Christ — to be set free?
Why is it when a Christian is "set free" that they desire to serve God and not themselves?