Galatians 4:21-5:15

New King James Version

Two Covenants^(A)

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons: ^(B)the one by a bondwoman, ^(C)the other by a freewoman. ²³ But he who was of the bondwoman ^(D)was born according to the flesh, ^(E)and he of the freewoman through promise, ²⁴ which things are symbolic. For these are ^[a]the two covenants: the one from Mount ^(F)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— ²⁵ for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— ²⁶ but the ^(G)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now ^(I)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are ^(J)children of promise. ²⁹ But, as ^(K)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(L)even so it is now. ³⁰ Nevertheless what does ^(M)the Scripture say? ^(N)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for ^(O)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Christian Liberty

5 ^(P)Stand^[b] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a ^(Q)yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that ^(R)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised ^(S)that he is ^[c]a debtor to keep the whole law. ^4 (T)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; ^(U)you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly ^(V)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For ^(W)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ^(X)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷ You ^(Y)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ^9 (Z)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹ And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, ^(AA)why do I still suffer persecution? Then ^(AB)the offense of the cross has ceased. ^12 (AC)I could wish that those ^(AD)who trouble you would even ^[d]cut themselves off!

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only ^(AE)do not use liberty as an ^(AF)opportunity for the flesh, but ^(AG)through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(AH)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ^(AI)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!