4:23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the {x} flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by {y} promise.
(x) As all men are, and by the common course of nature.
(y) By virtue of the promise, which Abraham laid hold on for himself and his true seed, for otherwise Abraham and Sara were past the begetting and bearing of children.
4:23 He [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh. The son of the bondwoman was born in the ordinary course of nature.
He of the freewoman [was] by promise. The son of Sarah was a child of promise, born when she was long past the age of bearing children. See Ge 18:1,14 21:1,2 Heb 11:11.
4:23 Was born after the flesh - In a natural way. By promise - Through that supernatural strength which was given Abraham in consequence of the promise.
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.
