The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 238

allegorical illust.ration; that Judaism is free (I\ 6} If.,.., 'l•po110-a.\{jµ, lx,116lpa lrrrlv) ; ~Javery and the Christian state liberty. It but t~e Jerusalem that is abov8 is fi·ee. 'l'he 1s not clear whether the subject of this verb, mystto Jerusalem in whioh Christ reigns, "sbmdeth in the same column with," is the Son of David, who is e.t the right hand " the covenant from ll'Iount Sinai," or "Ha- of ~~.. ~or the word" ~bove," lfva,, comp. gar," or " Sinai." If either of the two Col. m. I, 2, "Seek the thmgs that are ahovo former, then the :first clause of this verse is ( ..a live,,) where Christ is, seated at the right a parenthesis. The construction rans the band of God: set your mind on the things most smoothly by adopting the third view, that are above; your life is hid with Clirist which takes " Sine.i" as the subject. Sinai, in God;" and Phil. iii. 20, "Our citizensllip thnt gave forth the covenant which is repre- (,roX/,..v,ua) is in heann." This is identice.l sented by Hagar, "stands in the same witll the "heavenly Jerusalem" of Heb. xii. <'Ol nmn" wit.h "the J ernsalem that now is;" 22, which, standing in contre.st with the for Sinai is the starting-place of the covenant "mount that might be touched and that which has now its central abode in Jeru- burned with fire," Sine.i with its soul- salem; the people that was there is now crashing terrors, appears associated with here; and the condition of slavery into the pacifying blood of Jesus, and with which Sinai's covenant brought them marks communion with all that is holiest e.nd them now at Jerusalem. And is in bondage most glorious. The essential identity of with her children (6ovA<1iE< 'Y'"P [Receptus, the contrast in the two passages, which are BouA.£6e, 8~ J µer4 7f;,r, 'TIKvC1Jv aVT1] s) ; for she mutually illustrative, bespe:tks a common u in bondage witk her ckildren, The read- origin in one and the so.me mind. The ing 7a.p is substituted for 6~ by the editors supernal Jerusalem is not chiefly contrasted with general consent. That the subject of with the Jerusalem "that now is," in point the verb "is in bondage" is" the Jerusalem of time: slle is not the future only, tliougn that now is," is apparent from the contrasted in the future to be manifested-the holy sentence which next follows," but the Je- city, New Jeruse.lem, coming down (as St. rusalem that is above is free." "With her John writes) from God out of heaven (Rev, children; " repeatedly did our Lord group xxi. 2); but she is there now, with God. It Jerusalem with " her children "(Matt. :x:xiii. would be in harmony with St. Paul's repre- 3i; Luke xiii. 35; xix. 44), having, how- sentation to suppose that he ciiO:cei ves of ever, in view the city itself with its in- her having been there with God in heaven habitants; while St. Paul probably regards of old, her citizens upon earth being the Jerusalem more in idea., e.s representing true servants of God in all ages. In former Judaism in its central manifestation; "her ages, however, she was compe.rativ6ly barren; cliildren" being consequently those who it needed the.t the enthronization of the were living under the Law. The apostle God-Man, "the Media.tor of the new cove- here assumes that this mystical Jerusalem nant" (Heb. xii. 24), on" God's holy hill of with Iler children was in bondage, making Zion," should take ple.ce before she could the fact a ground for identifying her with become the prolific mother here shown to us. He.gar. That the fact was so St. Panl Commentators refer to rabbinical specule.- knew, both from his own experience and tions relative to e. Jerusalem which was• from his observe.tion of others. '.rhe religious conceived of as existing in hee.ven, as life of J ndaism consisted of a servile obedi- illustrated by Schottgen's • Disserte.tio de ence to a letter Law of ceremoniuli.sm, in- HierosoL Cmlesti' (' Hor. Hebr.,' vol. i. terpreted by the rabbins with an infinity diss. 1(,), e.nd also by Wet.stein both here e.nd of liair-splitting rules, the exact observe.nee on Rev. :ui. It would be interesting if we of which was bound upon the conscience of could determine when those rabbinical specu- its votaries as of the essence of true piety. lations first arose, e.nd how far it me.y bo The e.postle also probably took account of j ndged probable that they or some earlier the slavish spirit which very largely cha- form of tliem out of which these sprang racterized the religious teaching of the snggested anything to St. Paul for the form ruling doctors of J uduism; their bondage, in which he clothed his own conception of that is, not only to the letter of the Law, this idea.; there may have been such. bnt to the traditious also of men; that Meanwhile, we cannot but be struck by the spirit wliich those who heard the teaching purely idea.I and spiritue.l che.racter in which of the Lord J esns felt to be so strongly the apostle here exhibits his conception of it: contrasted by his manner of conceiving and though something like e. terrenemanifeste.tion pres;,nting ,:eligious truth. •• Ht tauglit as in the future seems indicated in Rom. viii. one haviug e.utliority, and not as the 21. "Is free;" the counterpe.rt of Sarah, e.s scribes." But the main point now contem- mentioned in vera. 22, 23. That this Jeru- ple.ted by the apostle was bondage to salc:m is free, the apostle feels it needless to ceremonialism. state; she to his very consciousness is the very Ver. 26.-But 1eruaalem which ill above ill home and bosom of God's Jove, having hel'  OH, IV. 1-31,] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. I 205