The allegory contrasts Hagar and Ishmael, who represent the law and bondage, with Sarah and Isaac, who represent the promise and grace/freedom.
Paul uses the historical account of Abraham's two sons as an allegory of the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, and the one of promise, which brings freedom. Les Feldick teaches that Ishmael stood for law and legalism, while Isaac stood for grace, and that legalism must therefore be cast out just as Hagar and Ishmael were sent away.
Galatians 4:24 — Paul explicitly says these things are an allegory and identifies Hagar with the covenant from Mount Sinai that genders to bondage.
Galatians 4:30 — Paul applies the Genesis command to cast out the bondwoman and her son, showing that the son of promise is the only heir.
In Galatians 4, Paul quotes the Genesis account and then explicitly states that these things are an allegory. He writes that "Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman" (Galatians 4:22), explaining that the son of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, while the son of the freewoman was by promise (v. 23). Paul then identifies the two covenants: "for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar" (v. 24). He goes on to say, "For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children" (v. 25). Paul concludes the allegory by quoting Genesis 21:10: "Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman" (Galatians 4:30). The next verse states, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free" (v. 31).
Les Feldick teaches that the Hagar-Sarah account is not just ancient history but an allegory that Paul uses to confront the Galatians, who were being persuaded by Judaizers that salvation required keeping the Jewish Law and circumcision (Clip 0). Les emphasizes that Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh because it was Sarah's idea, not God's, while Isaac was the son of promise whom God had been promising for over twenty years (Clip 3). According to Les, in Paul's allegory Ishmael stands for the law and legalism, while Isaac stands for grace and freedom (Clips 5, 7). Hagar represents Mount Sinai and the covenant of bondage (Clip 1). Because the two boys could not live under the same roof, just as Ishmael was sent out, legalism has to be sent out; the believer cannot mix law and grace (Clips 2, 6).
Paul wrote Galatians because Judaizers were besieging the churches in Asia Minor, telling Gentile believers they could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law and were circumcised (Clip 0). Les explains that Paul uses the actual history of Abraham's two sons as an allegory, something God set up in the Old Testament so Paul could make the point (Clip 1). The Galatians were already turning back under legalism, which is why Paul wrote with such urgency (Clip 0).
In Paul's allegory, Hagar is the Egyptian bondmaid who bore Ishmael (Clip 3). According to Galatians 4:23, the son of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; Les explains this was Sarah's idea, not God's (Clip 3). Paul identifies Hagar with Mount Sinai in Arabia, saying she "answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children" (Clip 1; Galatians 4:25). Les summarizes that Ishmael stood for the law and legalism (Clips 5, 7).
Isaac, on the other hand, was the son of the freewoman and was born by promise (Clip 3; Galatians 4:22-23). God had promised Isaac for more than twenty years, and even when Abraham and Sarah were past childbearing, God miraculously gave them Isaac (Clip 3). Les says Isaac stood for grace and freedom, and that Ishmael and Isaac could have no interrelationship because they represented law and grace respectively (Clips 5, 7). Galatians 4:31 concludes, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
The allegory reaches its point in Galatians 4:30 when Paul quotes Genesis 21:10: "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman" (Clip 2). Les traces this back to the Genesis account, where God told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness because Ishmael would not live under the same roof with the son of promise (Clip 6). Earlier, Hagar had made Sarah miserable, and Sarah had wanted her gone, but God sent Hagar back; later God would send her and Ishmael out to the desert (Clip 4). Les applies this directly: just as Ishmael was sent out, legalism has to be sent out; law and grace cannot coexist (Clips 2, 6).
Paul's Urgency Over the Galatians
Paul wrote Galatians urgently because Judaizers were persuading Galatian believers that they could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law; this is the background for the allegory.
The Allegory of the Two Covenants
Les explains that Paul's statement 'These things are an allegory' means the historical events are a picture, and that Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, the covenant of bondage.
Cast Out the Bondwoman
Les applies Galatians 4:30 directly: just as Hagar and Ishmael were cast out, legalism cannot be brought into grace and must be sent out.
Ishmael After the Flesh, Isaac by Promise
Les shows that Ishmael's birth was Sarah's idea, not God's, making him after the flesh, while Isaac was the son God had promised for years.
Hagar's Earlier Conflict With Sarah
Les recounts how Hagar taunted Sarah and made life miserable, which led Sarah to want her gone; God intervened then, but later sent Hagar and Ishmael into the desert.
Law and Grace Cannot Be Mated
Les teaches that Ishmael and Isaac could have no interrelationship, because Ishmael stood for law and legalism, and Isaac stood for grace and freedom.
Ishmael Sent Out as a Picture
God sent Hagar and Ishmael away because Ishmael could not live under the same roof as Isaac; Paul uses this in the allegory to show legalism must be sent out.
Ishmael and Isaac Point to Law and Grace
Les summarizes that Ishmael represented the law, which was fleshly, and Isaac represented the promise and the grace of God.
Genesis 21:10: Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Sarah's words, which Paul later quotes to show that the son of the bondwoman must not inherit with the son of promise.
Galatians 4:22: For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Paul introduces the historical fact of Abraham's two sons as the basis of the allegory.
Galatians 4:23: But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
This verse contrasts the fleshly birth of Ishmael with the promised birth of Isaac.
Galatians 4:24: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Paul's key statement that these events are an allegory of two covenants.
Galatians 4:25: For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Paul identifies Hagar with Mount Sinai and with bondage.
Galatians 4:30: Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
The scriptural command Paul applies to the Galatians to cast out legalism.
Galatians 4:31: So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
The conclusion of the allegory places believers on the side of the freewoman.
Les says it is an allegory, but it is grounded in real history. He explains that Paul could not write this if it had not happened, but it did happen, and God set it up so Paul could use it as a picture of the two covenants (Clip 1).
Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, which genders to bondage. Paul says, "For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children" (Galatians 4:25; Clip 1).
Isaac represents the son of promise and the grace of God. Les teaches that Isaac stood for grace and freedom, in contrast to Ishmael, who stood for law and legalism (Clips 5, 7).
According to Les, no. Ishmael and Isaac could not live under the same roof, and just as Ishmael was sent out, legalism has to be sent out. Law and grace cannot coexist (Clips 2, 6).
Watch the Teaching: Abraham, Sarah, and the Allegory of Law vs. Grace | Genesis 20-21