Literal Allegory - Galatians 4:21-26

Galatians 4:21-26

Example of Hagar and Sarah

 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically:these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

Here is an example of Scripture using a literal meaning to provide a message beyond its literal interpretation.  Both are the word from God.  

Paul explains the allegory. Jerusalem is represented by the slave woman, for she is still held by the law.  The new Jerusalem is born from above and is free. It is born from the promise and is the promised land. 

Israel remains in the present Jerusalem, slave to the law.