little children
The allegory (Galatians 4:22-31) is addressed to justified but immature believers (compare (1 Corinthians 3:1); (1 Corinthians 3:2) who, under the influence of legalistic teachers, "desire to be under the law," and has, therefore, no application to a sinner seeking justification. It raises and answers, for the fifth time in this Epistle, the question, Is the believer under the law? (Galatians 2:19-21); (Galatians 3:1-33); (Galatians 3:25); (Galatians 3:26); (Galatians 4:4-6); (Galatians 4:4); (Galatians 4:9-31).