If We Are His We Are Now All Full Sons of God (Galatians 4:1-7 ). Now he comes to the very heart of the matter, and that is that in Jesus Christ, all who are His now become full grown, adult, children of God. read more
Galatians 4:1-Judges : . An “ heir” may be either one who is entering on his inheritance or one who is hereafter to enter on it. In a sense, the Christian inheritance is always future; heaven lies ahead. And the NT, with its strong eschatological background, felt the claims of the future more even than we do. Yet preceding verses speak of full sonship in Christ as largely implying entrance on the inheritance. The Spirit is earnest or first-fruits ( Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians... read more
The apostle had before determined, that the whole body of such as believed in Jesus Christ, were that seed of Abraham to which the promise was made, and so heirs of the promises made to him; yet so, that, as it is among men, though a child be a great heir, and lord of a great estate, yet while he is under age he is used like a servant; so the time of the law being as it were the time of believers’ nonage, those who lived in that time were used like servants. read more
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTESGalatians 4:1. The heir, as long as he is a child.—An infant, one under age. Differeth nothing from a servant.—A slave. He is not at his own disposal. He could not perform any act but through his legal representative.Galatians 4:2. Under tutors and governors.—Controllers of his person and property.Galatians 4:3. Under the elements of the world.—The rudimentary religious teaching of a non-religious character. The elementary lessons of outward things.Galatians 4:4.... read more
Now I say, That an 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 ).So, Paul now gives us an illustration of a... Here's a little child. He is born in the Rockefeller family. One day he's going to be heir to the Rockefeller fortunes. But as long as he is in kindergarten, he can't go out and sign checks for a million dollars. Though one day it'll all be his,... read more
Galatians 4:1-3 . The heir, as long as he is a child, and a minor, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. He is under guardians, till the year appointed by the will of his father. This allegory applies to the jews, who though they were the seed of Abraham, were still in their minority. Though they were the heirs, they were still under the law, till the appointed time should come. So we also have been under the elements of this world, subject to the laws of our... read more
Galatians 4:1-2Now this I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant.Reading lifeThere is nothing final in the character of this world. But all betrays infancy. Everything is in a state of preparation. We move up and down amidst the reflections of the future. Certainly the material world has not reached its destination. The air we breathe--the sky we look on--the soil we tread--are only to go to make a “new heaven and a new earth.” And the Divine government,... read more
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; Ver. 1. Differeth nothing from a servant ] In allusion whereunto there is written upon the prince’s arms, Ich dien, that is, I serve. Henry the Second, king of England, crowned his eldest son Henry while he was yet alive; which made his ambition quite turn off his obedience. Ambition ever rides without reins. That king, at his son’s coronation, renounced the name of king for... read more
That: Galatians 4:23, Galatians 4:29, Genesis 24:2, Genesis 24:3, 2 Kings 10:1, 2 Kings 10:2, 2 Kings 11:12, 2 Kings 12:2 Reciprocal: Acts 15:10 - which 1 Corinthians 13:11 - I spake Galatians 3:19 - till Galatians 3:23 - faith came Galatians 3:25 - we Galatians 4:7 - thou Colossians 2:14 - the handwriting Hebrews 9:26 - in read more
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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1-2
‘But I say that as long as the heir is a child he does not differ in any way from a bondservant, even though he may be lord of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed by the father.’ The thought of our being heirs of God now leads on to a further illustration. The idea of the irrevocable settlement continues and now considers the beneficiary, the one who receives the benefit. If he is still a child then he is subject to ‘guardians and stewards’, the guardians to deal... read more