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"Under guardians and stewards..."

Text: Galatians 4:2a

A CHILD-HEIR

The apostle Paul had carefully articulated that all who are justified through faith in Christ might indeed be called sons of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. But how does this apply in real-life? He discusses this matter in the following text.

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,
but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage
under the elements of the world.

Galatians 4:1-3

1. “The heir”

a) He is at all times the heir.

b) He may even be regarded as “master of all”.

c) He will inherit everything his father owns.

2. “As long as he is a child”

a) He does not differ at all from a slave.

b) The father does not want him to grow up spoilt and pampered.

c) He is not given deferential treatment even though he is an heir.

3. “Under guardians and stewards”

a) These may have been slaves.

b) They may have been employees.

c) Their task would be to train the heir well.

d) The father wants his heir to walk worthy of the inheritance that he will be given.

4. How long would this training last?

a) Everything depends on the father.

b) He determines when the child-heir has matured sufficiently before he is fully entrusted with his inheritance.

5. “In bondage under the elements of the world”

a) The years of training under the law was described as being “in bondage”.

b) The religious practices of the law were called “elements of the world”.

c) These were deemed necessary instruction until the child-heir came of age.