Bond and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, do you not listen to [what] the Law [really says]? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman [Hagar] and one by the free woman [Sarah].^{(A) 23} But the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise. ²⁴ Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above [that is, the way of faith, represented by Sarah] is free; she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written [in the Scriptures],

²⁸ And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously]. ²⁹ But as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh persecuted the son who was born according to [the promise and working of] the Spirit, so it is now also.^{(C) 30} But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].