3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by
3 Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
21 Tell me now, you who have become so enamored with the law: Have you paid close attention to that law?
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says?
(Read Galatians 4:21-27)
The difference between believers who rested in Christ only, and those who trusted in the law, is explained by the histories of Isaac and Ishmael. These things are an allegory, wherein, beside the literal and historical sense of the words, the Spirit of God points out something further. Hagar and Sarah were apt emblems of the two different dispensations of the covenant. The heavenly Jerusalem, the true church from above, represented by Sarah, is in a state of freedom, and is the mother of all believers, who are born of the Holy Spirit. They were by regeneration and true faith, made a part of the true seed of Abraham, according to the promise made to him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 3:3
Commentary on Galatians 3:1-5
(Read Galatians 3:1-5)
Several things made the folly of the Galatian Christians worse. They had the doctrine of the cross preached, and the Lord's supper administered among them, in both which Christ crucified, and the nature of his sufferings, had been fully and clearly set forth. Had they been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, by the ministration of the law, or on account of any works done by them in obedience thereto? Was it not by their hearing and embracing the doctrine of faith in Christ alone for justification? Which of these had God owned with tokens of his favour and acceptance? It was not by the first, but the last. And those must be very unwise, who suffer themselves to be turned away from the ministry and doctrine which have been blessed to their spiritual advantage. Alas, that men should turn from the all-important doctrine of Christ crucified, to listen to useless distinctions, mere moral preaching, or wild fancies! The god of this world, by various men and means, has blinded men's eyes, lest they should learn to trust in a crucified Saviour. We may boldly demand where the fruits of the Holy Spirit are most evidently brought forth? whether among those who preach justification by the works of the law, or those who preach the doctrine of faith? Assuredly among the latter.