Desiring the law, but not listening to it.

Galatians 4:21-31 (ESV)
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? [22] For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. [23] But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. [24] Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. [25] Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. [26] But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. [27] For it is written,

"Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband."
[28] Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. [29] But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. [30] But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." [31] So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Seems many actually desire to be under the law, as I pointed out yesterday. However, paradoxically those same people will refuse to listen to the law. It is true. The Gospel they won’t listen to. People will respond to the law much more readily. Yet in responding to it they often ignore it, or at least portions of it. It is quite amazing. The most legalistic people I have ever met don’t actually listen to the law. Legalists are worse then lawyers when it comes to the law. At least lawyers find actual loopholes. Legalists twist the law and imagine them. They also tend to feel free to replace them. They will ignore laws about fornication, and create laws in regard to smoking, or playing cards. Believe me I have seen it. The law doesn’t work that way though, the law always accuses. No one stands righteous by the law. Only Christ, and the promise of the Gospel can make us righteous before God.