Galatians 4:26-27 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
Paul continues his comparison of two ways of life. He shifts now to allegory of Sarah. Sarah represents the heavenly Jerusalem where there is genuine freedom. Paul will describe this freedom more in ch. 5. He quotes from Isaiah 54:1 to illustrate this freedom. He assumes that the barren one refers to what Sarah represents in his allegory. In the original context in Isaiah, this verse refers to desolate Jerusalem. In Paul’s use of this verse, he also connects this to Jerusalem but uses it as an invitation for Jerusalem to experience God’s promise. Barren Jerusalem is like Sarah was, without hope and children. Those who follow the law in a legalistic way seeking self-righteousness are like barren Jerusalem and barren Sarah.
But there is hope for this situation. The barren one can haven children. Those in the earthly Jerusalem can become citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. Those stuck under the law can find freedom in Jesus Christ. Those who are seeking righteousness before God by their own efforts can find rest and peace in God’s grace. The gospel is not about trying to be good but trusting in the goodness of God shown in Jesus Christ. Although these verses are difficult to understand, they express through the use of Old Testament quotation the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. This is an optimistic invitation for the Galatians to change their ways and return to the gospel that Paul had preached to them.
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