Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.Ye observe days — Jewish sabbaths.And months — New moons.And times — As that of the passover, pentecost, and the feast of tabernacles.And years — Annual solemnities. it does not mean sabbatic years. These were not to be observed out of the land of Canaan. read more
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.The apostle here, dropping the argument, applies to the affections, Galatians 4:11-20, and humbles himself to the Galatians, with an inexpressible tenderness. read more
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am — Meet me in mutual love.For I am as ye were — I still love you as affectionately as ye once loved me. Why should I not? Ye have not injured me at all - I have received no personal injury from you. read more
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.I preached to you, notwithstanding infirmity of the flesh — That is, notwithstanding bodily weakness, and under great disadvantage from the despicableness of my outward appearance. read more
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.And ye did not slight my temptation — That is, ye did not slight or disdain me for my temptation, my "thorn in the flesh." read more
1. The heir Whether the father be living or not, he is heir. The divine Father ever lives. Child Literally, an infant; but the word is intended to cover the whole period of minority, which, by Roman law, terminated at twenty-five. Differeth nothing from a servant That is, in the respects mentioned in the next verse. Lord of all That is, inherently and by law; though externally subjected for his own good to the judgment of others. So the child of God, a servant in exterior, is... read more
5. The development from Judaism or Gentilism to Christianity, parallel to the development from childhood into manhood, Galatians 4:1-8. Paul here unfolds, with marked clearness, his “doctrine of development,” and charges therefrom that the Galatians have reversed the law of progress, and “advanced backwards.” He had hinted this view in Galatians 3:3; Galatians 3:25, and now fully expands the view. In the present chapter, Galatians 4:1-2 describe the child in pupilage and advancement;... read more
2. But The items of his servile external conditions. Under tutors The guardians of his person. And governors The trustees of his property. He is thus a prisoner in his own domains, a servant in his own lordship. Time appointed His close of twenty-five years’ minority the time appointed by law. Of the father This does not mean that the father appoints the time; but it is the time by which the father is limited, and grants him the rights of majority. read more
3. Even so Introducing the parallel growth of the child and of race in religion. The nice adjustment of parallel terms and phrases must be specially marked. Children answers to child, Galatians 4:1; bondage to servant; elements to tutors and governors. We That Gentiles as well as Jews are included as children and heirs is clear from Galatians 4:8. Gentilism is thus viewed in its aspect of a preparatory dispensation, a previous stage to Christianity. See notes on Acts 17:22-23.... read more
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Galatians 4:9
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?But now being known of God — As his beloved children.How turn ye back to the weak and poor elements — Weak, utterly unable to purge your conscience from guilt, or to give that filial confidence in God.Poor — incapable of enriching the soul with such holiness and happiness as ye are heirs to.Ye desire to be again in bondage — Though... read more