Galatians 4:24

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

This set of circumstances contains an illustration; for these two women [Hagar and Sarah] represent the two Agreements [between God and mankind]. The one [Agreement], given at Mount Sinai, represents Hagar, whose children became [the Israelites], enslaved under bondage [to the requirements of the Law of Moses].

Cross References

Matthew 13:35

[This was] so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, when he said [Psa. 78:2], “I will open my mouth [to speak] with parables. I will say things that have been hidden from the beginning of time.”

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the Holy Spirit, to enslave you again to fear, [Note: Some translators take “Holy Spirit” here to be “spirit,” making the verse say “you did not receive the spirit of slavery”], but you received the Holy Spirit [or, a spirit] by adoption [who produces] sonship, so we can call out, “Abba” [which means] “Father.”

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now these events happened to those people as examples [to us], and they were written as warnings to us, to whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. [Note: This refers to past ages concluding with the coming of Christ in that day].

1 Corinthians 10:4

and drank the same spiritual drink [i.e., water coming from a rock supernaturally. See Ex. 17:6] For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. [Note: Besides actual water, they were refreshed from the spiritual presence of Christ].

Galatians 4:25

Now this woman, Hagar, is similar to Mount Sinai, in Arabia, and represents the present [earthly] Jerusalem [i.e., Israel], consisting of children in bondage [to the Law of Moses].

Galatians 4:3

So also, when we [Jews] were like children, we were under bondage to the basic worldly rules [of the Law of Moses].

Galatians 5:1

Christ set us free [from condemnation under the Law of Moses], so we could stay free! Remain where you are then, and do not get tangled up again in the enslaving harness [of the Law of Moses].

Hebrews 11:19

[So], he reasoned that God was able to raise up [Isaac] from the dead, which, in a sense, he did receive him back [from the dead].

Hebrews 12:24

and to Jesus, the Mediator of a New Agreement [between God and mankind], and to the sprinkled blood [of Jesus], which says better things [to us] than [the blood of] Abel did. [Note: The contrast seems to be that Abel’s blood called for vengeance and death (See Gen. 4:10) whereas the blood of Christ provides mercy and life].

Hebrews 13:20

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep [i.e., the church], through the blood of the never ending Agreement [i.e., Christ’s blood],

Hebrews 7:22

So therefore, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better Agreement [between God and mankind].