I never dreamed that our journey through the New Testament Epistle of Galatians would be this lengthy! Today we begin chapter 4, statistically (just as well say) 50% into the marvelous little Book!
Yes, it has 6 chapters, in total. If I have counted correctly, 149 verses. And we have now (although briefly) discussed 74 of them! With 75 remaining!
So it is with excitement that I ask you to notice with me Galatians 4:1 this morning. In some ways, (I think) chapter 4 might be my “favorite!” Although I already have a Bible Portion “Booklet” printed covering chapters 1 and 2, which I am calling “Paul’s Autobiography.” A whole week’s preaching in some upcoming Revival, the Lord willing!
Really, in our King James Bibles this fourth chapter begins with a fairly long sentence. Paul the Apostle is known for that! One of his sentences in Greek (in the Epistle of Ephesians) is ten verses long! What an amazing mind he had!
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” Galatians 4:1-2
Speaking metaphorically, obviously, writing symbolically.
But we shall try to analyze this Sentence piecemeal. Today verse 1 and tomorrow (the Lord willing) verse 2. Space and time constrain me, on the Website here.
Again our Text … “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all …” Galatians 4:1
The opening clause, “Now I say,” does NOT mean Paul is writing without the inspirational Touch of the Holy Spirit. (Paul elsewhere claims that “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God!” Even the “Now, I say” lines! This quote I have used is directly from 2 Timothy 3:16, its first half.)
Paul often seems to be giving his own idea(s) about a matter. But not really so, not according to Peter as well. “For the prophecy CAME NOT in old time BY THE WILL OF MAN: but holy men of God spake as they WERE MOVED by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21 … and Paul’s writings certainly were prophetic!
The Apostle is here contrasting being a “child” in some notable family … to being an “mature son” in that same family. (The word he uses for “child” is the unusual “nepios,” meaning just “an infant.” It is translated “babe” six times in the King James Version!)
And in Paul’s culture, the 1st century Greek-Roman world (even though Paul was a Jew) “little children” had no legal rights. But were under “tutors” and “governors” (tomorrow’s verse, tomorrow’s lesson, these definitions) and they made no significant decisions on their own!
In essence, this little “child” was no different than a “servant,” a “slave” (“servant” being “doulos” in Greek, an extremely low ranking slave at that).
The child could even be the firstborn son of a (we would say) millionaire, or even a future emperor of all the land … but still … he is taught and directed and supervised just like one of the menial servants! (With no “say-so” of his own.)
But what does all this mean?
Paul is speaking comparatively here.
When we were lost … we needed “tutors” and “governors” to keep us in line! We were not an operational part of the family! Just mere infants!
But when the family head (the Father) deemed us “ready,” (with us Christians that is when we were “saved”) we were taken away from those “guardians” and pronounced adult “sons,” with all the rights pertaining thereunto!
Paul is leading up to saying that when we were born-again … we were adopted into God’s Family!
This is a new way Paul is using to teach us our honorable “standing” as Believers in Jesus!
Wow!
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all.”
In like manner Israel (God’s “firstborn son” according to Jeremiah 31:9 where God claims: “I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn”) in her “infancy” (before Jesus came to earth, Virgin Born and Divine) needed the Law of Moses (the “tutor” and “governor” of our verse) to tell her every move to make!
But now that Jesus has come (and has died on Calvary and been raised from the dead) … Israel can trust that shed Blood of the Lord … and be adopted into the family, into His family!
No longer needing to be bossed around “under the law” … but able to live freely “in Jesus Christ!”
Grown up, in Christ Jesus!
Placed into God’s family (still by grace through faith) as genuine (not slaves, servants any longer) sons of God!
That’s what Paul is trying to tach us in this first paragraph of Galatians chapter 4 … complex in ways, but beautiful in content!
Grace!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell