Galatians 3:24 – 4:7
Paul continues to use the analogy of the pedagogue into
chapter 4 of Galatians. Remember that a
pedagogue (guardian) is a slave in charge of a child. The child is free, essentially, and the heir
to the owner of the slave. Consider that
a “free” child is under the care and direction of a slave, until the time that
the father determines the child is capable.
·
Summary from lesson 7 regarding the word
guardian, tutor, or schoolmaster (v3:24-25)
o
Greek word – Pedagogue: A slave, typically older and proven to be
trustworthy, that had the responsibility of caring for children.
o
Paul used a pedagogue as an analogy for the law
(Torah), which fits so well because within the law are not only common legal
issues such as do not lie, commit adultery, or murder, but also hygiene
guidelines, health and nutrition, how to treat employees, slaves, and
neighbors. It was full manual on how to
organize a community, including social interaction, manners, hygiene, etc.
o
Paul then finishes that part of the analogy by
essentially saying the guardian (pedagogue) has “handed us off” to the teacher
(Christ) as a pedagogue would have relinquished responsibility to the teacher.
o
To fully understand Paul’s analogy though, would
that child then disregard everything the pedagogue taught? Would the teacher tell the child to disregard
everything the pedagogue taught? Of
course not! As Christ did not ask us to
disregard the law, but to obey.
o
Paul’s point is not to disregard the law, but to
put it in its proper place. It is NOT
designed as justification or salvation.
·
v4:1-2 – Paul continues his analogy of the
pedagogue, by pointing out the irony that a free child, an heir, is essentially
under the authority of the slave.
·
V4:3-6 – The direct comparison to believers.
o
We are the children. God is the father. God provided us with a set of instructions to
guide us and teach us how to live as a community. Unfortunately men had turned that into a
legalistic form of justification with God, which it was never intended to
be.
o
God provided us with Jesus, the messiah,
“freeing” us from the slavery of the law.
o
However, remember, as a child the pedagogue
teaches all social skills needed. When
becoming an adult, those skills are not disregarded, but followed willingly.
·
v5-7 – We are adopted sons and heirs
o
Romans 11:17 – we are grafted in. Critical to remember that we are the adopted
sons. We, as Gentiles are the grafted
in, adopted sons and daughters of Israel.
Not the replacement.
o
Romans 8:12-17 – Heirs and adopted sons
o
v7 – We are HEIRS?!? Heirs to what?
§
Remember the context of this whole segment and
letter. Just a few verses earlier in
chapter 3, Paul is discussing the promise of inheritance to Abraham.
§
We, as believing Gentiles, and adopted sons and
heirs, in are going to share in the inheritance promised to His chosen people.
§
Ephesians 3:6 – “Gentiles are fellow heirs…”
§
The depth of this promise and inheritance is
probably a study all by itself.
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