1 This|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" what|strong="G3588" I|strong="G1161" am|strong="G1510" saying|strong="G3004": When|strong="G1161" young children|strong="G3516" inherit all|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3004" their|strong="G3956" father owned, they|strong="G1161" are|strong="G1510" still no|strong="G3762" different|strong="G1308" from|strong="G2962" his|strong="G3956" slaves|strong="G1401". It|strong="G1161" doesn’t matter that|strong="G3004" they|strong="G1161" own everything|strong="G3956".
2 While|strong="G1510" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" children, they|strong="G2532" must|strong="G0235" obey those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" chosen to|strong="G2532" care for|strong="G2532" them|strong="G1510". But|strong="G0235" when|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" reach the|strong="G3588" age the|strong="G3588" father|strong="G3962" set|strong="G4287", they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" free.
3 It|strong="G3779" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" for|strong="G2532" us. We|strong="G2249" were|strong="G1510" once like|strong="G3779" children|strong="G3516", slaves|strong="G1398" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" useless rules of|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3779" world|strong="G2889".
4 But|strong="G1161" when|strong="G3753" the|strong="G3588" right time|strong="G5550" came|strong="G2064", God|strong="G2316" sent|strong="G1821" his|strong="G0846" Son|strong="G5207", who|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1096" from|strong="G1537" a|strong="G1096" woman|strong="G1135" and|strong="G1161" lived under|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551".
5 God did this|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" he|strong="G3551" could buy the|strong="G3588" freedom of|strong="G3551" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3588" under|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551". God’s purpose was|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2443" make us his|strong="G5259" children.
6 Since|strong="G3754" you|strong="G3754" are|strong="G1510" now|strong="G1161" God’s|strong="G2316" children, he|strong="G0846" has|strong="G2316" sent|strong="G1821" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" of|strong="G5207" his|strong="G0846" Son|strong="G5207" into|strong="G1519" your|strong="G3588" hearts|strong="G2588". The|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" cries|strong="G2896" out|strong="G2896", “\+w Abba|strong="G0005"\+w*, Father|strong="G3962".”
7 Now|strong="G1161" you|strong="G1487" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" slaves|strong="G1401" like|strong="G5207" before. You|strong="G1487" are|strong="G1510" God’s|strong="G2316" children, and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G1487" will|strong="G2316" receive everything he|strong="G2532" promised his|strong="G1223" children.
8 In|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" past you|strong="G1510" did|strong="G1492" not|strong="G3756" know|strong="G1492" God|strong="G2316". You|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510" slaves|strong="G1398" to|strong="G2316" gods|strong="G2316" that|strong="G2316" were|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" real.
9 But|strong="G1161" now|strong="G1161" you|strong="G3739" know|strong="G1097" the|strong="G3588" true God|strong="G2316". Really, though|strong="G1161", it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316" who|strong="G3739" knows|strong="G1097" you|strong="G3739". So|strong="G2532" why|strong="G4459" do|strong="G2532" you|strong="G3739" turn|strong="G1994" back|strong="G3825" to|strong="G2309" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3739" kind of|strong="G2316" weak|strong="G0772" and|strong="G2532" useless rules you|strong="G3739" followed before|strong="G1909"? Do|strong="G2532" you|strong="G3739" want|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2309" be|strong="G2532" slaves|strong="G1398" to|strong="G2309" those|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3739" again|strong="G3825"?
12 Brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G0080" sisters, I|strong="G1473" became|strong="G1096" like|strong="G5613" you|strong="G5210". So|strong="G5613" please become|strong="G1096" like|strong="G5613" me|strong="G1473". You|strong="G5210" were|strong="G1096" very good to|strong="G1096" me|strong="G1473" before.
13 You|strong="G5210" know|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G3754" came|strong="G1223" to|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" the|strong="G3588" first|strong="G4387" time|strong="G4387" because|strong="G3754" I|strong="G3754" was|strong="G3588" sick|strong="G0769". That|strong="G3754" was|strong="G3588" when|strong="G1161" I|strong="G3754" told the|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G2097" News|strong="G2097" to|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210".
14 My|strong="G1722" sickness was|strong="G2424" a|strong="G5613" burden to|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210", but|strong="G0235" you|strong="G5210" did|strong="G3761" not|strong="G3756" stop showing me|strong="G1473" respect or|strong="G3761" make|strong="G3756" me|strong="G1473" leave. Instead|strong="G0235", you|strong="G5210" welcomed|strong="G1209" me|strong="G1473" as|strong="G5613" if|strong="G5613" I|strong="G1473" were|strong="G3588" an|strong="G0032" angel|strong="G0032" from|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316". You|strong="G5210" accepted|strong="G1209" me|strong="G1473" as|strong="G5613" if|strong="G5613" I|strong="G1473" were|strong="G3588" Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547" himself!
15 You|strong="G5210" were|strong="G3788" very happy then|strong="G3767". Where|strong="G4226" is|strong="G3588" that|strong="G3754" joy now|strong="G3767"? I|strong="G1473" can|strong="G1325" say|strong="G1473" without a|strong="G1325" doubt that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" would have|strong="G3748" done anything to|strong="G1325" help me|strong="G1325". If|strong="G1487" it|strong="G3140" had|strong="G3748" been possible|strong="G1415", you|strong="G5210" would have|strong="G3748" taken out|strong="G1325" your|strong="G1487" own|strong="G3788" eyes|strong="G3788" and|strong="G3788" given|strong="G1325" them|strong="G1325" to|strong="G1325" me|strong="G1325".
16 Am|strong="G1096" I|strong="G1096" now|strong="G1096" your|strong="G1096" enemy|strong="G2190" because I|strong="G1096" tell you|strong="G5210" the|strong="G1096" truth|strong="G0226"?
17 Those|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846" are|strong="G0846" working hard to|strong="G2443" persuade you|strong="G5210", but|strong="G0235" this|strong="G0846" is|strong="G0846" not|strong="G3756" good|strong="G2573" for|strong="G2443" you|strong="G5210". They|strong="G0846" want|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2443" persuade you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2443" turn against|strong="G3756" us and|strong="G0846" work hard for|strong="G2443" them|strong="G0846".
18 It|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" good|strong="G2570" for|strong="G4314" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G4314" work hard, of|strong="G1722" course, if|strong="G2532" it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" for|strong="G4314" something good|strong="G2570". That’s something you|strong="G5210" should|strong="G2532" do|strong="G3361" whether|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" there|strong="G1722" or|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3361".
19 My|strong="G1722" little children|strong="G5043", I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G5605" in|strong="G1722" pain again|strong="G3825" over|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210", like a|strong="G3825" mother giving birth. I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3739" feel this|strong="G3739" pain until|strong="G3360" people can look at|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" and|strong="G5547" see Christ|strong="G5547".
20 I|strong="G1473" wish|strong="G2309" I|strong="G1473" could be|strong="G2532" with|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210" now|strong="G1161". Then|strong="G2532" maybe I|strong="G1473" could change|strong="G0236" the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G1722" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G2309" talking to|strong="G4314" you|strong="G5210". Now|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" don’t know what|strong="G3588" to|strong="G4314" do|strong="G2532" about|strong="G1722" you|strong="G5210".
21 Some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G3551" you|strong="G3004" people|strong="G1510" want|strong="G2309" to|strong="G3004" be|strong="G1510" under|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551". Tell|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004", do|strong="G1510" you|strong="G3004" know what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" says|strong="G3004"?
22 The|strong="G3588" Scriptures say that|strong="G3754" Abraham|strong="G0011" had|strong="G2192" two|strong="G1417" sons|strong="G5207". The|strong="G3588" mother of|strong="G5207" one|strong="G1520" son|strong="G5207" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G2192" slave woman|strong="G1658", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" mother of|strong="G5207" the|strong="G3588" other|strong="G1125" son|strong="G5207" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G2192" free|strong="G1658" woman|strong="G1658".
23 Abraham’s son from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" slave woman|strong="G1658" was|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1080" in|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" normal human|strong="G4561" way|strong="G2596". But|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" son from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" free|strong="G1658" woman|strong="G1658" was|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1080" because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1860" God made to|strong="G2596" Abraham.
24 This|strong="G3778" true story makes a|strong="G1510" picture for|strong="G1063" us|strong="G1519". The|strong="G1519" two|strong="G1417" women|strong="G1417" are|strong="G1510" like the|strong="G1519" two|strong="G1417" agreements between God and|strong="G1520" his|strong="G1519" people|strong="G1510". One|strong="G1520" agreement|strong="G1520" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G1519" law that|strong="G3778" God made on|strong="G1519" Mount|strong="G3735" Sinai|strong="G4614". The|strong="G1519" people|strong="G1510" who|strong="G3748" are|strong="G1510" under this|strong="G3778" agreement|strong="G1520" are|strong="G1510" like slaves|strong="G1397". The|strong="G1519" mother named Hagar|strong="G0028" is|strong="G1510" like that|strong="G3778" agreement|strong="G1520".
25 So|strong="G1161" Hagar is|strong="G1510" like|strong="G0846" Mount|strong="G3735" Sinai|strong="G4614" in|strong="G1722" Arabia|strong="G0688". She|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" picture of|strong="G5043" the|strong="G3588" earthly Jewish city|strong="G0846" of|strong="G5043" Jerusalem|strong="G2419". This|strong="G3588" city|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" slave, and|strong="G1161" all|strong="G3588" its|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846" are|strong="G1510" slaves|strong="G1398" to|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" law.
26 But|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" heavenly Jerusalem|strong="G2419" that|strong="G3748" is|strong="G1510" above|strong="G0507" is|strong="G1510" like the|strong="G3588" free|strong="G1658" woman|strong="G1658", who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" our|strong="G1161" mother|strong="G3384".
27 The|strong="G3588" Scriptures say,
28 My|strong="G2596" brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G1161" sisters, you|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" children|strong="G5043" who|strong="G0080" were|strong="G1510" born because|strong="G1161" of|strong="G5043" God’s promise|strong="G1860", just|strong="G2596" as|strong="G2596" Isaac|strong="G2464" was|strong="G1510".
29 But|strong="G0235" the|strong="G3588" other son of|strong="G1080" Abraham, who|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1080" in|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" normal way|strong="G3779", caused trouble for|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1080" by|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" power of|strong="G1080" the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151". It|strong="G5119" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" today.
30 But|strong="G0235" what|strong="G5101" do|strong="G3361" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures|strong="G1124" say|strong="G3004"? “Throw|strong="G1544" out|strong="G1544" the|strong="G3588" slave woman|strong="G1658" and|strong="G2532" her|strong="G0846" son|strong="G5207"! The|strong="G3588" son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" the|strong="G3588" free|strong="G1658" woman|strong="G1658" will|strong="G5101" receive everything his|strong="G0846" father has|strong="G5101", but|strong="G0235" the|strong="G3588" son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" the|strong="G3588" slave woman|strong="G1658" will|strong="G5101" receive nothing|strong="G3756".”
31 So|strong="G1352", my brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G0080" sisters, we|strong="G1510" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" children|strong="G5043" of|strong="G5043" the|strong="G3588" slave woman|strong="G1658". We|strong="G1510" are|strong="G1510" children|strong="G5043" of|strong="G5043" the|strong="G3588" free|strong="G1658" woman|strong="G1658".