The Jerusalem 'above' is the free, heavenly Jerusalem — the mother of believers — while the earthly Jerusalem remains under Law and in bondage.
In Galatians 4, Paul connects the present Jerusalem with Hagar and Mount Sinai, where the Law was given, and says she is in bondage with her children. Les Feldick explains that this Jerusalem above is the heavenly situation of which believers are now citizens, and that believing Gentiles, like Isaac, are children of promise — not children of the bondwoman.
Galatians 4:26 — This is the key verse that directly names the 'Jerusalem which is above' as free and the mother of believers.
Galatians 4:24 — It establishes that the two sons of Abraham are an allegory of two covenants, one from Mount Sinai that genders to bondage.
Galatians 4:28 — It applies the allegory to believers, who are children of promise as Isaac was.
In Galatians 4:24–26, Paul explains that Abraham's two sons are an allegory of two covenants. The covenant from Mount Sinai, the Law, 'gendereth to bondage,' and Paul identifies it with Agar (Hagar). He continues: 'For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.' Then he makes the contrast: 'But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.' The passage goes on to say, 'Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise' (Galatians 4:28), and concludes, 'So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free' (Galatians 4:31).
Les Feldick teaches that this passage contrasts God's earthly people, Israel, with God's heavenly people, the Body of Christ. Everything about Israel is earthly — God's earthly people with earthly promises — while everything about the Body of Christ is heavenly (Clips 0, 3). The earthly Jerusalem was the headquarters of Judaism and the Law, but the church has no earthly headquarters; it is headquartered in heaven (Clips 2, 4). He directly explains that 'Jerusalem which now is' relates to the practicing of the Law, while 'Jerusalem which is above is free' refers to 'the heavenly situation of which you and I are now citizens.' Isaac, whose birth was by promise, is a picture of grace, and believing Gentiles are children of promise just as Isaac was (Clip 1). Les emphasizes that God's earthly people were predominantly under law, while His heavenly people are under grace, and the two must never be mixed (Clips 2, 3).
The Bible calls the Jerusalem above 'free' and says she is 'the mother of us all' (Galatians 4:26). Les Feldick identifies this as the heavenly situation to which believers belong, saying, 'We're citizens of the heavenlies' (Clip 1). While Israel's Jerusalem was the earthly center of God's dealings under the Law, the church is headquartered in heaven, not in any earthly city (Clips 2, 4).
Galatians 4:24–25 explains that the covenant from Mount Sinai 'gendereth to bondage,' and that Hagar corresponds to Mount Sinai in Arabia and 'answereth to Jerusalem which now is.' Les Feldick points out that the Law was given through Moses to Israel at Mount Sinai (Clip 0), and that under Judaism, Jerusalem was the headquarters where God dealt with His earthly people (Clips 2, 4). Because that Jerusalem is tied to the Law, she is in bondage with her children.
Les teaches that God's earthly people were predominantly under law, while God's heavenly people are under grace, and you cannot mix the two (Clip 2). The Jerusalem above is free because it belongs to the promise and to grace, pictured by Sarah and Isaac. Believers are not children of the bondwoman but of the free (Galatians 4:31), and as Isaac was, they are children of promise (Galatians 4:28; Clip 1).
The heavenly Jerusalem being 'free' does not erase God's earthly purposes for Jerusalem. Les Feldick teaches that when Christ rules and reigns, He will do so on the earth from the city of Jerusalem, the city of peace (Clip 6). The distinction remains: Israel is God's earthly people with earthly promises, while the church is God's heavenly people with heavenly promises (Clips 0, 3).
Israel's Earthly Status and the Law at Sinai
Les explains that the Law was given through Moses to Israel at Mount Sinai, and that Israel is God's earthly people with earthly promises — the background for why the present Jerusalem is in bondage.
Jerusalem Above as Heavenly Citizenship
Les directly teaches that the Jerusalem which is above is free and is the heavenly situation of which believers are citizens, with Isaac as a picture of grace and believers as children of promise.
Earthly vs. Heavenly People
Les contrasts God's earthly people Israel, centered on Jerusalem under the Law, with God's heavenly people the Body of Christ under grace, which has no earthly headquarters.
Earthly and Heavenly Promises
Les reinforces that everything concerning Israel is earthly, while everything concerning the Body of Christ is heavenly — the larger framework for understanding the Jerusalem above.
The Church Headquartered in Heaven
Les explains that the New Testament church has no earthly headquarters; it is headquartered in heaven, in contrast to Judaism centered in Jerusalem.
The True Meaning of Israel as a "Peculiar People"
But Zion isn't in heaven, Zion's the north side of Jerusalem. And so this is the Zion that Isaiah is referring to. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, to Jerusalem. And unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, that is, of the children of Israel. As for me, God says, this is my, what's that word again? Covenant.
Christ's Future Reign in Earthly Jerusalem
Les shows that despite the heavenly Jerusalem above, Christ will one day rule and reign on earth from the city of Jerusalem, keeping earthly promises distinct.
The First Lie: How Satan Deceived Eve (Genesis 3 Bible Study)
And then in verse 16 it says, "'And thy house and thy kingdom shall be established forever, before thee thy throne shall be established forever.'" Now, that's a promise that God has made, and regardless of what Israel does, God's promises stand. They will never be broken. All right, let's turn quickly to another verse that might help us understand, and I'd like to take you to Jeremiah.
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 establishes the allegory of Hagar as the covenant that produces bondage.
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.
This verse directly links the present earthly Jerusalem to Hagar, Mount Sinai, and bondage under the Law.
Galatians 4:26: But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
The key verse: the Jerusalem above is free and the mother of believers.
Galatians 4:28: Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
This verse applies the allegory to believers, who are children of promise like Isaac.
Galatians 4:31: So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
The conclusion of the allegory: believers belong to the free woman, not the bondwoman.
The Jerusalem above is the free, heavenly Jerusalem — the mother of believers. Les Feldick teaches that this is the heavenly situation to which believers belong, and that we are citizens of the heavenlies, in contrast to the earthly Jerusalem under the Law.
Galatians 4:25 says Hagar 'answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.' Les Feldick connects this to the Law given at Mount Sinai and to Jerusalem as the earthly headquarters of Judaism under the Law.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the New Testament church has no earthly headquarters; it is headquartered in heaven. Jerusalem was the headquarters of God's dealing with Israel under Judaism.
Yes. Les teaches that Christ will rule and reign on earth from the city of Jerusalem. The heavenly Jerusalem describes believers' citizenship now, but God's earthly promises to Israel remain.
Watch the Teaching: Abraham, Sarah, and the Allegory of Law vs. Grace | Genesis 20-21