'As long as the heir is not of age, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods; but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and destitute elemental powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again? You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain. (Gal. 4:1-11).'
Paul used the example of a child to explain to the Galatians that they were rightful heirs and not slaves. One does not become an ‘heir’ to the promises of Abraham by observing the letter of Law. Faith in Christ Jesus is what make one an heir to the promises. A child is no different from a slave in that a child cannot speak for itself but is under the supervision of its guardian or trustee. In a similar way, human beings were subjected to the ‘spirit elements’ (pagan practices) of the world before God revealed himself to them and were given the Law from God by Moses to prepare them for the coming of God’s son. God the parent set the date for the son to come into the world (the fullness of time v. 4), so he could pay the price for their freedom making them eligible for adoption. The son was born of a woman assuming humanities fallen condition and submitting himself to the Law. The Son was fully human and fully Divine. In addition, God through his gift of grace to humanity sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts so that we may recognize Him as our Father and turn to him thereby becoming adopted sons and daughters, heirs. Paul admonished the Galatians not to turn back to the spirit elements now that they are known by God.
Almighty God, it is only by your grace and faith in Jesus Christ that we dare to cry, “Abba, Father!” We have been saved from slavery to sin by the blood of your spotless lamb and now that we are heirs to the kingdom, send down your Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us that we may not fall back into slavery and lose our hope of salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments