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1But I say that so long as the heir is a child , he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all ,
2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father .
3So we also , when we were children , were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world .
4But when the fullness of the time came , God sent out his Son , born to a woman , born under the law ,
5that he might redeem those who were under the law , that we might receive the adoption as children .
6And because you are children , God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts , crying , “Abba, Father !”[#4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.]
7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son ; and if a son , then an heir of God through Christ.
8However at that time , not knowing God , you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods .
9But now that you have come to know God , or rather to be known by God , why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles , to which you desire to be in bondage all over again ?
10You observe days , months , seasons , and years .
11I am afraid for you , that I might have wasted my labour for you .
12I beg you , brothers, become as I am , for I also have become as you are . You did me no wrong,
13but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time .
14That which was a temptation to you in my flesh , you didn’t despise nor reject ; but you received me as an angel of God , even as Christ Jesus .
15What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that , if possible , you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me .
16So then , have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17They zealously seek you in no good way. No , they desire to alienate you , that you may seek them .
18But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause , and not only when I am present with you .
19My little children , of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you —
20but I could wish to be present with you now , and to change my tone , for I am perplexed about you .
21Tell me , you that desire to be under the law , don’t you listen to the law ?
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons , one by the servant , and one by the free woman .
23However , the son by the servant was born according to the flesh , but the son by the free woman was born through promise .
24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants . One is from Mount Sinai , bearing children to bondage , which is Hagar.
25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now , for she is in bondage with her children .
26But the Jerusalem that is above is free , which is the mother of us all .
27For it is written ,
“Rejoice , you barren who don’t bear .
Break out and shout, you who don’t travail.
For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
28Now we , brothers, as Isaac was , are children of promise .
29But as then , he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit , so also it is now .
30However, what does the Scripture say ? “Throw out the servant and her son , for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman .”[#Genesis 21:10]
31So then , brothers, we are not children of a servant , but of the free woman .