1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
Continuing the analogy from chapter 2, Paul makes clear application. People who live by the Law are like infants (literally) and not like mature adults. What is pictured here is a child who is the heir of his father’s wealth. In Roman times a child under a certain age (which varies from culture to culture) may own an inheritance, but he has no control of it, or over himself for that matter. He is under the management of a legal guardian or teacher. This was an individual set in place by the father to look after the child’s life and growth into adulthood. In many regards, the child was treated like a slave in that he had no rights of his own. Once he reached the age of “majority” and was no longer a minor, he was free to possess and manage his inheritance without the need for a personal manager. He was no longer a child to be treated like a slave.
So Paul likens this to a person’s pre-Christ days. Before faith he was like a child who was still under guardianship. He had in himself the potential for being all the Lord designed him to be, as he was made in the image of God. But, attempts to live by the Law (for the Jews) or the “basic elemental things of the world,” kept him under that guardianship. The potential was there for a right relationship with God, but was not experienced before faith in Christ.
We must not overlook the subtle point that the transition point from childhood to adulthood was set by the father. In the family situation, that came at a specific age. By analogy, God the Father set the transition point from spiritual childhood to maturity; that point is when the person comes to faith in Christ. He leaves behind his guardian and manager, the Law. Furthermore, he leaves behind all attempts based on human effort. He is now free to live the life He was created to live, without fear of judgment by the law.
In another place, Paul chastises believers for living like they are still children under law, “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!’ (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?” (Col 2:20–22) . Praise God we have been set free from such things.
Lord, I praise You that I am no longer under the guardianship of the Law. The inheritance of blessing is now mine, and I can truly walk in freedom.
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