Galatians 4:21 – Selective listening

Tell me, you who want to be under law, are you not hearing the law?

The core of the Galatians’ error was that they wanted to be “under the law.” That was a misconception for two reasons. First, the nations were never “under the law” since the law was given to only one nation at Mount Sinai (Rom.3:19; Gal.4:4; 1Cor.9:20). And secondly, Israel was “placed under the law until ” the promised Seed of Abraham should come (Gal.3:19,24). This means that Israel is no longer “ under the law” today.

As in 3:1-4, Paul also challenges his readers in questioning form. Then if the Galatians want to be under the law, start hearing  that same law first. After all, the law (Heb. Torah = teaching) does not only consist of instructions, but above all also teaches us history. Genesis, the first book of Moses, describes the first twenty-five hundred years prior to the giving of the law at Sinai. Paul will show how in Genesis the history of Abraham is illustrative and confirms what he teaches. If the Galatians won’t listen to him , then at least let them listen to the law !

Delen: