17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.

18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable 1manner, and anot only when I am present with you.

19 aMy children, with whom bI am again in labor until cChrist is formed in you—

20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for aI am perplexed about you.

Bond and Free

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not alisten to the law?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, aone by the bondwoman and bone by the free woman.

23 But athe son by the bondwoman 1was born according to the flesh, and bthe son by the free woman through the promise.

24 1aThis is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from bMount Sinai bearing children 2who are to be cslaves; 3she is Hagar.

25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

26 But athe Jerusalem above is free; 1she is our mother.

27 For it is written,

“aRejoice, barren woman who does not bear;

Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;

For more numerous are the children of the desolate

Than of the one who has a husband.”

28 And you brethren, alike Isaac, are bchildren of promise.

29 But as at that time ahe who was born according to the flesh bpersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, cso it is now also.

30 But what does the Scripture say?

“aCast out the bondwoman and her son,

For bthe son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, 1but of the free woman.