Galatians 4:2 Commentary and Bible Study

The father sets a time when the training will end and the schoolmaster will be dismissed, for then the child will have learnt enough to take on his responsibilities as heir of the estate. The period of training is not intended to go on for ever as though it was meant to become the norm, but has an end in sight. Both father and child look forward to that day. So there was a day waiting when God’s training period under the law would be over, and Israel should have been ready to leave behind the types and shadows of their childhood.Although the son under instruction is indeed a son, nevertheless, because his status is really no different to that of a slave, Paul is justified in comparing Israel under the law to a child under training, and at the same time in insisting that they were slaves and not free men. It is only in seeing Israel under the law as slaves that the Galatians will properly understand the great blessing of their very different status in Christ. Even those Jews who loved the Lord and trusted in him and walked in obedience; even believers had to submit to the ordinances of the law from the time of Moses until the coming of Christ. In the purposes of God there was one regime for believers and unbelievers at this time, and even Christ was born under the ceremonial law and kept its requirements.