Galatians 4:1-2:

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
​ 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 

Galatians 4:3:

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

Before God redeems a man and “quickens” him—makes him alive—he walks according to the course of the cosmos. This passage shows clearly that the cosmos is ruled by the “prince of the power of the air,” Satan the Devil. His spirit works in the children of disobedience, and they serve him. They are powerless in his grasp until God pays for them with the blood of His Son. The “elements of the world” in Galatians 4:3 cannot be a reference to the Mosaic law, because the Gentile Galatians were never exposed to it until after their conversion—after God had ordained that they be taken out of the control of the “governors of this world” (Ephesians 6:12). The “elements of the world” are those basic things that make this cosmos what it is—a world apart from God. These elements are sinful, rebellious, and pagan.

==Galatians 4:4-5:

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons."

​As the end draws closer it'll become harder to discern, in some respects, the real Christian vs the illusionary Christian. The real will live on the foundation that it is God who sent and His son who redeems. The Christian who lives the illusionary life will be aware of that, but still try and gain heaven by their own virtue and effort. The reason I use the word "illusionary" is because even the one who has fallen victim may not realize what they are doing, and why many on that day will very boldly go before the Lord and attempt to claim what is their inheritance...but will hear the words "Go from me, I never knew you." I have no intention of meeting God with any arrogant proclamation of God to fulfill His promise of what He owes me. For if I ask for what I am owed, then I will burn in the fires of hell. I will seek rather His mercy and pray He remembers this fragile frame and that He remembers those whom He knows.
"Go from me, I never knew you." is forever.

==Galatians 4:6-7:

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

​The proof that we are sons comes from the instinctive cry of the heart. In mans deepest need he cries "Abba! Father!". Abba is the Aramic word for Father, It must have been often on Jesus' lips, and its sound so sacred that men kept it in the original tongue. This instinctive cry of man's heart Paul believes to be the work of the Holy Spirit. If our hearts so cry, we know that we are sons, and all the inheritance of grace is ours.

==Galatians 4:8-15:

​​But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
 13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 
14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

==Galatians 4:16:

​ Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

Paul expresses his hurt and confusion that the Galatians, who once received him with immense love and respect, have now turned against him because he is speaking the truth to them. He reminds them of their former fervent belief and willingness to sacrifice for him, questioning why they have changed after being swayed by false teachers who are "zealous" to win them over for selfish reasons. 
Paul is writing to the Galatians to express his fear that his previous efforts may have been in vain. He reminds them of the difficult time he had with a physical ailment that was a trial to them, yet they didn't despise him but welcomed him like an angel of God. The Galatians' attitude has changed dramatically. Paul is asking them if telling them the truth of the Gospel has made him their enemy, as they are now being influenced by others. The truth Paul is referring to is the Gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus, and the "enemy" is a label he fears he has been given for speaking this truth.
Paul contrasts this with the false teachers who are "zealously" trying to win the Galatians over, but not for a good cause. Their goal is to alienate the Galatians from Paul so that the Galatians will seek them instead.

==Galatians 4:17-25:

They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 
18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 
20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 
24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 
​25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--

==Galatians 4:26:

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Thomas Schreiner

 The tithe is tied to the land Israel received under the old covenant. 
Israel was supposed to celebrate a tithe every three years in Jerusalem. But that requirement cannot apply to Christians today. It related to the Jews as a nation—to Jews who lived in the land of promise. With the coming of Christ, the Jewish nation is no longer the locus of God’s people, though individual Jews are part of the church through faith in Jesus.
The earthly Jerusalem is no longer central in God’s purposes (Gal. 4:25). Believers are part of the heavenly Jerusalem (Gal. 4:26) and look forward to the city to come (Heb. 11:10), to the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1–22:5). Abraham isn’t heir of the land of Israel, but of the whole world (Rom. 4:13).

---

==Galatians 4:27-30:

For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 
​30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ​

==Galatians 4:31:

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

​With a smile on his face and joy in his heart, the man related how he had been delivered from a life of sin. He gave God all the credit, saying nothing about any of his own merits or what he had done to deserve the blessings of redemption. The person in charge, who was legalistic, didn’t fully appreciate the reality of salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from human works. So he responded to the man’s comments by saying, “You seem to indicate that God did everything when He saved you. Didn’t you do your part, before God did His?” The new believer jumped to his feet and said, “Oh, yes, I did. For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That was my part. But God took out after me and ran me down. That was His part.” -Pastor H. A. Ironside

---