Jan 1986 - Q & A

In what sense is the heavenly Jerusalem our mother" (Gal. 4:26)?

"The Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother"

This intriguing statement comes at the climax of a passage of typical teaching which spans the ages in a brilliant survey from Abraham to the present day. The argument of verses 22 to 26 of this chapter can be expressed as two parallel chains, one natural and the other spiritual. Supplying some details not stated but implied, the construction is something like this:

Abraham

Hagar the handmaidSarah the freewoman

Son born after the fleshSon born through promise

The Old CovenantThe New Covenant

The Jerusalem that now is (in Paul's day)Heavenly Jerusalem

In bondageFree

Thus in the allegory, Hagar the slave woman stands for the earthly Jerusalem in bondage to the law, whereas Sarah the mother of the free stands for the heavenly Jerusalem, justifying the description "our mother" (note the correct emphasis).

It is helpful to compare this passage with another complex parallelism bearing on the same theme in Hebrews 12:18-24.

unknown | Jan 1986
Question And Answer