Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 4:22

"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman." — Galatians 4:22 (ASV)

For the final time Paul turn to Abraham, upon whom the legalizers had undoubtedly based a large part of their argument. Jews derived much satisfaction from their physical descent from Abraham and in many cases considered the promises and blessings of God to be theirs because of it . The present passage deals with the same issue, only Paul’s method of attack is slightly different from that of John the Baptist and Jesus. Instead of denying outright their descent from Abraham, Paul simply reminds his opponents that Abraham had two sons (Ishmael and Isaac) and asks, in effect, which of these two children the legalizers take after.