Commentaries:
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Galatians 4:21
He is essentially asking, "Do you understand the instruction contained in the following episode drawn from Genesis?" Alternatively, "Do you comprehend what is in the law and its application to a New Covenant Christian?"
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part One): IntroductionRelated Topics: Commandments | Commands of God | Isaac and Ishmael | Ishmael and Isaac | Law | Law as Instruction | Law, Prophets, and Writings | New Covenant | Pentecost | Torah
Galatians 4:21-23
The births of Ishmael and Isaac are recorded in Genesis 16 and 21. Though this happened long before the Ten Commandments and the other laws were given through Moses, Paul refers to this portion of Scripture as the law! Obviously, Paul uses "law" to mean the entire Pentateuch or Torah (the first five books of the Bible), not just the Commandments. In Galatians 4:24, he specifically mentions the Old and New Covenants.
Earl L. Henn
What Was the Law 'Added Because of Transgressions'?Related Topics: Commandments | Commands of God | Isaac and Ishmael | Ishmael and Isaac | Law | Law as Instruction | Law as Teaching | Law, Prophets, and Writings | New Covenant | Old Covenant | Pentateuch | TorahOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing Galatians 4:21:
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What Does Galatians 4:21 Mean?
Paul uses law for the entire Pentateuch when asking those who desire to be under the law if they hear it. The births of Ishmael and Isaac appear in Genesis 16 and 21, before Moses received the Commandments, yet Paul treats this account as law. He mentions the Old and New Covenants and asks whether one understands the instruction in that Genesis episode and its application to a New Covenant Christian.