I mean that as long as the heir is not of age, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. 6 As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
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 makes 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 “elemental powers of the world” which can be interpreted as slavery to the Law of Moses for the Jews which cannot lead to salvation (Heb. 10:1), and slavery to pagan rites and customs for the Gentiles (1 Cor. 12:2).
At a time predetermined by God, the Son came into the world (the fullness of time v. 4), so he could pay the price for mankind’s freedom making them eligible for adoption. The preexistent son assumed humanity’s fallen condition by being born of a woman and submitting himself to the Law (Lk. 2:21). The Son was fully human having taken on his mother’s flesh (Lk. 1:31), and fully Divine receiving his divinity through the eternal Divine paternity of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:35). 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 of His kingdom.
Almighty God, it is by your divine plan through Jesus Christ that we dare to cry, “Abba, Father!” We have been saved from slavery to sin by the blood of your Son. In your mercy send down your Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us so that we may not lose our hope of salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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