Scripture: Galatians 4:21-24
Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.
Thought for the Day: It is greatly appreciated that Paul clarified for us that he was creating an allegory in this section. Allegories and metaphors and other figures of speech can be powerful tools of communication, but they also have their limits. I’ve witnessed people ride an allegory into the ridiculous, and then attempt to create a central theological tenet based upon something that was clearly never intended. Scriptures can be tricky at times, but it should never keep us from exploring. We simply need to be cautious and take cues from the passages themselves. In doing so, we have a better chance of understanding the original context and not venture down some erroneous road.
Prayer: In my study and discernment of scripture, Lord, let me listen closely to what was intended in its original context and how the spirit might be intending it for today’s context. Amen.
