Today’s Text verse is Galatians 4:24. Where Paul writes: “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.”

Paul is here teaching … with a specific goal in mind. Trying to “save” his Galtian converts from drifting back into a form of slavery! From neglecting their precious “liberty” in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son!

So he is relating the story of Abraham’s two sons, his first two sons precisely. One who was born of a salve girl, a handmaid. The other being born of a full-fledged Wife, “Sarah.”

That’s where today’s verse “fits” into the overall scheme. “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.”

But first, what is an “allegory?”

The English word “allegory” is defined as: “a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, often a moral or religious one.” Another dictionary shortens it some, to merely  a (verbal) “symbol!”

Better maybe yet, the Greek word here is “allegoreo.” It is a blend of “allos” (a pronoun) which simply means “another,” or “the other” of two or more choices. Then “agoreo” (a verb) meaning “to gather together,” or even “to assemble.” (This is the only time in all the Bible this word appears, a true “hapax legomenon.”)

Hence, an “allegory” takes one set of facts (Abraham’s two boys) and compares them to a corresponding set of facts, for teaching/illustrative purposes.

And what is an “Agar?”

Just the Old Testament name “Hagar,” but brought directly from Greek into English, not translated … but transliterated! (In Greek technically there is not “h” letter, not in their whole alphabet! So the King James translators obeyed this grammatical constriction precisely.)

Yes, Hagar was a woman in “bondage,” in the employ of Abraham and Sarah as a “servant.” (The first time the noun “handmaid” is used in Scripture is Genesis 16:1, identifying Hagar! “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an HANDMAID, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.” The noun is “shipchah,” a slave girl!)

Things are becoming clearer.

The Galatians, who have been born again by the liberating Grace of God … can now live like free-born sons (Isaac’s kind) … or they can spurn their freedom and go back into a form of slavery (Ishmael’s kind, the son of Hagar) and live an inferior life!

Wow!

“Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.”

Boys compared to covenants!

The verb “gendereth,” just like it one might suspect, means “to give birth” to something.

Paul does not “hate” the Law of Moses. He is just violently opposed to it as a means of salvation! Something better (Someone Better) has now been provided by God the Father!

As is stated in 1 John 4:14. “And we have seen and do testify THAT THE FATHER SENT THE SON TO BE THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.” 

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Look at this, too! “For the Law MADE NOTHING PERFECT, but the bringing in of A BETTER HOPE did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” Hebrews 7:19, and obviously Jesus is that BETTER HOPE!