Galatians 4:13-25

English Standard Version

¹³ You know it was ^(A)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^(B)at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^(C)as an angel of God, ^(D)as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by ^(E)telling you the truth?^{[a] 17} They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^(F)not only when I am present with you, ^19 (G)my little children, ^(H)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^(I)is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(J)one by a slave woman and ^(K)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(L)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(M)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(N)covenants. ^(O)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[b] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.