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.