Paul's Allegorical Point

Galatians 4:22-26 NASB
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
24 This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

To whom do the phrases in italics refer--Hagar or Sarah?
What do we call the covenant associated with Mount Sinai?
To whom do the bolded phrases refer--Hagar or Sarah?
What covenant is associated with her?
Her child, Isaac, was the promised child, the child who would be the ancestor of the promised Seed of the Abrahamic covenant.
According to Galatians 3:16, who is that Seed?
Those who were troubling the Galatians were telling them that the Mosaic covenant had superceded the Abrahamic covenant, that's why they needed to follow the Law, not just believe in Christ's resurrection for their salvation.
So, in using this allegory about the two women, what point do you think Paul is trying to make for the Galatians? What does he want them to know?
What does Abraham's covenant with God teach us about how we are to relate to God?
Is our relationship with God something we earn?
If we're trying to earn a relationship with God, if we try to build our relationship on human effort, then whose children are we--Hagar's or Sarah's?
If we want to be Sarah's children, children of the promise, free children, then what should our relationship with God be based on?
Read Galatians 3:7.

The Jerusalem Above

Galatians 4:26 NASB
But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

With what word does verse 26 begin?
Does that indicate a comparison or a contrast?
Read the first part of the verse to the semicolon.
What is the subject of this part of the sentence?
What does Paul mean by "the Jerusalem above"?
How could you figure that out?
One way would be to look in an exhaustive concordance such a Strong's to see if Paul used that phrase in one of his other letters and then read all those references. He didn't. Another way is to read the cross-references provided in a study Bible for this section of the verse. Here are the cross-references provided in my NASB study Bible: Hebrews 12:22, Rev. 3:12; 21:2, 10.
Look up one or more of these verses.
So, what do you think Paul is referring to when he says "the Jerusalem above"?
What is Paul contrasting it with? (Read Galatians 4:25.)
What did he say about the present Jerusalem?
So, what is the contrast?
What does he say about "the Jerusalem above" in the second part of Galatians 4:26?
In Galatians 4:24, Paul starts this allegory, and he mentions two women.
Who are they?
Which one represented the present Jerusalem?
So, which one is left to represent the Jerusalem above?
So, which one is the mother of the Galatian churches to whom Paul was writing?
If she's their mother then are they slave children or free children?
Free from what? Free for what?
Read Galatians 4:1-7.

Mount Sinai and the Present Jerusalem

Galatians 4:25 NASB
Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

In the first metaphor Paul used in verse 24, Hagar was the covenant that proceeded from Mount Sinai. In verse 25, Paul uses another metaphor for Hagar.
What's the second metaphor for Hagar?
Read the portion of the verse between the commas.
Who or what corresponds to the present Jerusalem?
Since Hagar is the subject of the sentence, she is the one who corresponds to the present Jerusalem.
What does "corresponds to" mean?
In the King James version, it reads "answereth to." If you were to look up "answereth" for this verse in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, you would find that it means "to file together as soldiers in ranks." (G#4960)
What does Hagar correspond to?
Is this a comparison or a contrast?
How is the present Jerusalem of Paul's day related to the Mosaic (or Sinaitic) Covenant, represented by Hagar?
How are people who are represented by Hagar trying to achieve righteousness?
And what does Paul say about those who are like Hagar?
Is this what Paul would desire for his readers, the Galatians?
Read Galatians 1:6-8 and Galatians 3:1 and Galatians 4:1-7.

Achieving Righteousness

Galatians 4:22-24 NASB
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.

Which woman does Paul use to represent this covenant bearing children who are to be slaves?
How is Abraham getting a son through Hagar similar to people trying to achieve righteousness through the Law? (See Galatians 3:2.)
Read John 3:1-18.
How is what Jesus is telling Nicodemus similar to what Paul is telling the Galatians?