Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham^(A) had two sons, one by a slave^(B) and the other by a free woman. ²³ But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai^(C) and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.^{(D) 25} Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia^(E) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,^(F) for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem above^(G) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,^(H)

²⁸ Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,^(K) are children of promise.^{(L) 29} But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,^(M) so also now.^{(N) 30} But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”^{[b](O) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.^(P)

Freedom of the Christian

5 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm,^(A) then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.^{(B) 2} Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. ³ Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.^{(C) 5} For we eagerly await^(D) through the Spirit, by faith, the hope^(E) of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith^(F) working through love.^(G)