Galatians chapter 4

vs 1

Paul is extending his metaphor from verse 24 (not that you'd know from the NIV!) about people being children of faith when shepherded by the Law, but fully mature when coming to faith in Christ. But it's not for exactly the same purpose. Verses 1 and 2 simply set the scene for Paul's new use for this metaphor.

vs 2

So when you're mature enough, you don't need a tutor anymore. And it's your father who picks that time, not you.

vs 3

So now, instead of being slaves under the tutor of the Law, we as humanity were all slaves under the principles of this world.

vs 4

The right time is picked by our heavenly father for our salvation. And our salvation comes through a woman's son (through a human), through someone under law. Yes, Jesus was a Jew. But of course, everyone is born under God's Law, so the more important point is that he was, just like anyone, under the duress of the law to achieve perfection.

vs 5

Mixing metaphors a bit, Jesus came to free us from our slavery to the Law (because being under a tutor is like being a slave) so that we might become full sons - that is, take ownership of the inheritance.

vs 6

The Holy Spirit is the mark that we are God's sons. It cries out "Daddy!" to God in our hearts, so that we might be turned to him more and call on him more.

vs 7

So Christians are sons, not slaves (so we shouldn't be slaves to the world or to our Law tutor).

vs 8

Of course, the Galatians were probably slaves to idols. We've got just as many idols, we just don't usually build little shrines for them in our house. Secularisation has made sure that we suppress our open worship of stuff, and internalise it in our actions.

vs 9

Paul's concern for the Galatians is that they are going to turn back to their old system of worship, which denies their freedom and sonship in God, and instead enslaves them once more to tradition and ritual. But those are weak and miserable.

vs 10

Whether these were Jewish special times or pagan special times, Paul probably didn't really care. The fact is that we are free from them, and yet the Galatians had run back into old practices. You'll note of course that Paul tempers himself a bit towards the Romans, by putting the matter of special holy days as a disputable matter. But here, he goes full ball against the Galatians.

vs 11

That's got to be one of the harshest messages in the New Testament. I pray God's message isn't wasted on us.