Paul makes a great chronological Statement today, actually part of a divinely inspired Clause we began considering yesterday morning. (That Lesson is archived here for you, if you missed it.)
“But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Galatians 4:2 … with a child, a minor, being the one who “is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”
Basically Paul is here taking a “dispensational” view of God’s overall Plan. In the history of Israel, NO … in the history of mankind, God resorted to the Law of Moses to help show man what a failure (sinner) he was, that Law clearly identifying and classifying the iniquity, the rebellion! That would be our deep-seated disobedience to God!
And I believe Paul is here (in today’s verse) using two word pictures to illustrate that Law.
First, that of a “tutor,” in Greek spelled “epitropos,” meaning “one into whose care a prized person or thing has been entrusted for safekeeping.” At times even “for an education!” Literally “epitropos” means we have “been turned” a “certain way!” Turned from thinking we are “pretty good” in God’s Eyes … to realizing “we all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God!”
And goodness, does the Law do that! It even educates us! Humiliates us! Shows us our shortcomings! And convicts us all as despicable sinners!
Wow!
Secondly, a word with which we are more familiar, “governor.” Here is the Greek noun “oikonomos,” the head slave in a Roman household who was in charge of “running the place,” enforcing the Master’s laws!” (Our English word “economy” is derived therefrom!)
God put the Law of Moses “in charge” (by legislative prowess) … urging to us the stark reality of the fact of our depravity! Our propensity to do things for ourselves … rather than doing things for God!
Wow!
But just a minute!
The Law held that position temporarily, looks like.
We were … “under tutors and governors UNTIL THE TIME APPOINTED of the father.” Until we became “of age,” no longer a child, an infant!
And we learned yesterday …“until Jesus came” to fully, completely obey that Law (the Only One Who ever did) and yet (Jesus) to suffer its Penalty for those of us who could not obey it!
Now my loyalty is NOT to the Law, not to Moses!
My loyalty is to Jesus!
Moses operated his system by fear.
Jesus operates His by Love!
Oh, I am so thankful today that the “time has come!”
Jesus has finished the Work God gave Him to do!
And I, by faith in Jesus (not by slavishness to the Law) am saved!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell