Paul's allegory of Hagar and Sarah contrasts the bondage of the Law with the freedom of grace.
Scripture says the two women are an allegory of two covenants: Hagar, the bondwoman, is Mount Sinai and corresponds to the Jerusalem that is in bondage, while Sarah is the freewoman whose son Isaac came by promise. Les Feldick teaches that Ishmael stood for law and legalism, while Isaac stood for grace and freedom.
Galatians 4:24 — This verse directly identifies the account as an allegory of two covenants, making it the core of the answer.
Galatians 4:30 — This verse shows the command to cast out the bondwoman and her son, proving the two cannot coexist.
Paul writes to the Galatians that Abraham had two sons—one by a bondwoman (Hagar) and one by a freewoman (Sarah). He says of Isaac, "But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise." Then Paul explains: "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar." He further identifies Hagar with physical Mount Sinai and with earthly Jerusalem: "For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." Paul concludes by quoting Scripture: "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." Thus, Scripture itself sets the two covenants in opposition—bondage and promise, flesh and freedom.
Les says the whole letter to Galatians was written to prove to Gentile believers that they are not under Law but under grace, because Judaizers insisted Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Law. Paul uses the historical account of Hagar and Sarah as an allegory: Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, was born after the flesh because it was man's idea; Isaac, the son of the freewoman, was born by promise after 25 years of God's promise. Les says Ishmael stood for law and legalism, while Isaac stood for grace and freedom. Therefore Hagar and Ishmael represent the Law, legalism, and the flesh, while Sarah and Isaac represent grace and promise. Les points out that Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem that then stood in bondage to the Law. The allegory proves that law and grace cannot live under the same roof; just as Hagar and Ishmael had to be sent out, legalism must be sent out of the believer's life.
Les teaches that Hagar and Ishmael stood for the Law, legalism, and the flesh. Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, answering to the Jerusalem that then was and is in bondage with her children. The Law given to Israel through Moses was fleshly and carnal in its setting and practice, although the Law itself was spiritual. Ishmael was born through the energy of the flesh, and he always pictures the flesh in Paul's allegory.
Isaac, the son of the freewoman Sarah, was born by promise. God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son for 25 years. Les explains that Isaac stood for grace and the age of grace, based on all the promises of God's plan of redemption. Ishmael and Isaac could have no interrelationship, because Ishmael stood for law and legalism and Isaac stood for grace and freedom.
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, Isaac. Les says God did all this because Paul was going to use it as an allegory in Galatians 4. The command "cast out the bondwoman and her son" shows that the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. In the same way, legalism has to be sent out; you cannot bring legalism into grace.
The Galatians were Gentile believers being besieged by Judaizers who argued that they had to keep the Law to be saved. Paul used the allegory to show that law and grace cannot mix. Just as Ishmael had to leave the whole area, legalism cannot be brought into grace. Everything in the Old Testament, says Les, was for our learning, and this allegory is a good example.
Purpose of Galatians
Les explains that Galatians was written to tell Gentile believers they are not under the Law but under grace, and that Paul stood his ground against the Jerusalem believers who insisted on circumcision.
Law vs. Grace in the Allegory
Paul used Isaac and Ishmael as an allegory: Ishmael represented the Law and legalism, while Isaac represented grace and freedom; they could have no interrelationship.
Legalism Excluded
Because Ishmael represented legalism and Isaac represented grace, the Galatians were told to cast out the bondwoman and her son—just as Ishmael had to leave, legalism has no place in grace.
Flesh vs. Promise
Ishmael was a child of the flesh, Isaac a child of promise; Paul uses Ishmael to represent the Law and Isaac to represent the age of grace based on God's promised plan of redemption.
Ishmael Sent Out
God had Hagar and Ishmael sent into the wilderness so that Paul could later use the event as an allegory proving that law and legalism cannot live under the same roof as grace.
Born After the Flesh vs. By Promise
Ishmael's birth was man's idea and was after the flesh, while Isaac was born to the freewoman by promise after 25 years of God's promise, forming the basis of the allegory.
Hagar as Mount Sinai
Ishmael was of the flesh through the slave girl, and the Law in its setting and practice was fleshly; Hagar is identified as Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to Jerusalem in bondage.
Flesh Always Pictures Ishmael
Ishmael was born in response to the wishes of the flesh because God never told Abraham and Sarah to have a child with Hagar; in Paul's allegory, Ishmael always pictures the energy of the flesh.
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 draws the contrast between Ishmael born after the flesh and Isaac born by promise.
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.
This verse explicitly calls the account 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.
Hagar is tied to Mount Sinai and the earthly Jerusalem that is in 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.
This verse commands the bondwoman's son to be cast out, showing law and promise cannot share the inheritance.
Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, which produces bondage. She is the bondwoman and corresponds to Jerusalem as it then was, in bondage with her children. In the allegory, Hagar and her son Ishmael stand for the Law and legalism.
Sarah is the freewoman whose son Isaac was born by promise. She represents the freedom and promise side of the allegory, and Isaac pictures the grace of God based on His promised plan of redemption.
Paul was writing to Gentile believers who were being told by Judaizers that they had to keep the Law. The allegory proves that law and grace cannot coexist; just as Ishmael had to be sent away, legalism cannot be mixed with grace.
It means legalism must be excluded from the believer's standing before God. Scripture says the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman, and Les says legalism has to be sent out just as Hagar and Ishmael were.
Watch the Teaching: Why Mixing Law and Grace Cancels the Work of the Cross