Paul tells believers to cast out the bondwoman and her son because they picture law and legalism, which cannot share the inheritance with grace.
In Galatians 4:30 Paul quotes Sarah's command in Genesis 21:10 and applies it as an allegory. Hagar and Ishmael represent the law and the flesh, while Sarah and Isaac represent the promise and grace, so the two cannot live together. Les Feldick emphasizes that God sent Hagar into the wilderness—not merely to a nearby tent—showing that legalism must be completely sent out.
Galatians 4:30 — This is the verse in question—Paul quotes Scripture to show the bondwoman's son cannot be heir with the freewoman's son.
Genesis 21:10 — This is the original command Sarah gave to Abraham, which Paul quotes in Galatians 4:30.
Paul writes, "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman" (Galatians 4:22). He 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" (Galatians 4:24). Then, in Galatians 4:30, Paul quotes the command: "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 verse settles the matter: the son of the bondwoman is excluded from the inheritance with the son of the freewoman.
Les Feldick teaches that this command is Paul's allegory for the absolute separation of law and grace. He says that "Ishmael stood for the law and legalism, Isaac stood for grace and freedom" (Clip 1). Paul's whole letter to the Galatians was written to prove to these Gentile believers that they were not under law, they were under grace (Clip 1). Les also stresses that "law and grace won't mix; law and grace can't mix." The bondwoman and her son must be cast out, and believers are not to embrace any kind of legalism (Clip 2). He points to Genesis, where God told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael out into the wilderness. God did not say to give Hagar a tent next door or a half mile down the line; He sent them clear out into the desert. In the same way, legalism has to be sent out (Clip 3, Clip 7). Ishmael was born after the flesh because it was Sarah's idea, not God's, while Isaac came by promise after years of waiting (Clip 4, Clip 5). Paul himself calls these things an allegory and identifies Hagar with Mount Sinai and the covenant of bondage (Clip 5).
Paul writes that Abraham had two sons—one by a bondmaid and one by a freewoman—and then declares, "Which things are an allegory" (Galatians 4:22–24). Les Feldick explains that Hagar the Egyptian slave girl had Ishmael, while Sarai, Abraham's legitimate wife, had Isaac. Ishmael was born after the flesh because it was Sarah's idea, not God's; Isaac was born by promise when Abraham and Sarah were past childbearing age. In the allegory, Ishmael stands for law and legalism, and Isaac stands for grace and freedom.
Les Feldick points out that God did not tell Abraham and Sarah to give Hagar a tent next door, out behind, or half a mile down the line. He sent Hagar and Ishmael clear out into the desert. Ishmael was not to live under the same roof with Isaac, the son of promise. Paul's application is that legalism must be treated the same way Abraham treated Ishmael—it must be sent out completely.
Scripture says, "For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman" (Galatians 4:30). Les Feldick applies this to Paul's readers: Ishmael and Isaac could have no consort and no interrelationship, because Ishmael stood for law and legalism and Isaac for grace and freedom. Paul was burdened that these believers not go back under legalism; as Les reads Galatians 4:19, Paul felt he had to shout and get their attention because he stood in doubt of them.
Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained
break after each half-hour program until we have a total of two hours. But you can have all these put together on tape. And as one young man called the other night, and I told him what we had, he said, send me all four, and we had the check for $80 in the mail the next day. So that's what we appreciate, and we feel it will just make a good study library. So no, we have no books.
Ishmael Represents Law; Isaac Represents Grace
Les Feldick directly explains why Paul quotes the command: Ishmael and Isaac could have no interrelationship because Ishmael stood for law and legalism while Isaac stood for grace and freedom.
Law and Grace Cannot Mix
Les stresses that law and grace cannot mix, so believers must cast out the bondwoman and her son rather than embracing any kind of legalism.
God Sent Hagar Into the Wilderness
Les connects the Genesis command to send Hagar and Ishmael away with Paul's allegory: legalism has to be sent out just as Ishmael was sent out.
Ishmael Was Born After the Flesh
Les explains that Ishmael was born after the flesh because it was Sarah's idea, not God's, while Isaac was the child of promise.
Galatians 4 Is an Allegory
Les shows that Paul's statement 'these things are an allegory' identifies Hagar with Mount Sinai and the covenant of bondage, making the law/legalism connection to Ishmael explicit.
Paul's Burden for the Galatians
Les reads Paul's anguish in Galatians 4:19 as the apostle having to shout to get the Galatians' attention because they wanted to go back under legalism.
God Set the Stage for the Allegory
Les teaches that God set up the events in Genesis so Ishmael and Isaac were raised in proximity and then sent apart, showing believers must treat the law exactly as Abraham treated Ishmael—cast out completely.
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.
This is Sarah's original command, later quoted by Paul in Galatians 4:30.
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 two sons as the foundation of the allegory.
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 identifies the bondwoman Hagar with the covenant from Mount Sinai, described as 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 is the key verse in question—Paul's command to cast out the bondwoman and her son.
Galatians 4:31: So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Paul concludes that believers belong to the free woman, not the bondwoman.
In Les Feldick's teaching, the command is an allegory. The bondwoman and her son picture law and legalism, while the freewoman and her son picture grace. So the verse means believers must completely separate themselves from trying to mix law-keeping with grace.
According to Galatians 4:24-25, Hagar represents Mount Sinai and the covenant of bondage, which is the law. Les Feldick says Ishmael, Hagar's son, stood for law and legalism.
Les Feldick explains that God set up this event in Genesis so Paul could use it as an allegory. Ishmael and Isaac could not live under the same roof, just as law and grace cannot coexist.
Paul wanted the Galatians to see that they were not under law but under grace. The son of the bondwoman could not be heir with the son of the freewoman, so legalism must be cast out.
Watch the Teaching: Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained