Or, some people will claim that their circumstances justify an exception to the rules: “I know the Bible says we should not have sex before marriage, but our situation is different because….” Many people today would say that Jesus and the writers of the Bible really did not know what they were talking about we know better. When confronted about sin, we pretend we do not have a problem. For a first-century Jew to say “We have never been enslaved” would be as preposterous as an African-American (particularly, one whose family has been in America since before 1860) making the same claim.

A core element of their cultural identity was their deliverance from slavery in Egypt through Moses. Their history, recorded in their Old Testament scriptures, was filled with repeated episodes of oppression and exile. I can almost picture Jesus staring back at them incredulously, saying, “Um, WHAT? Do you even hear what you’re saying?” The Jewish people were under foreign oppression by the Romans at that time. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” (John 8:33). When Jesus said, “The truth will set you free,” his listeners responded, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. Yet, many people respond with hostility and hatred. Jesus Christ and His true followers reveal sin so that it can be confessed, leading to repentance and freedom. Such is the situation when sin is mentioned.

Within maybe only five minutes, they went from being almost ready to become disciples to trying to kill Him. Whereas they initially believed Him (verse 31), by the end of the conversation they questioned and challenged Him, then apparently made accusations about His parents’ marital status when He was conceived (John 8:41), accused Him of being a demon-possessed Samaritan (verse 48), and eventually started preparing to stone Him to death (verse 59). Jesus was speaking to a group of “Jews who had believed him.” Yet, the conversation rapidly deteriorated. As a result, we come away with only half of the message, or perhaps a completely incorrect message. Yet, many of us saying it without thinking about the context. Even non-believers know it, and sometimes quote it without realizing that it was originally spoken by Jesus. “The truth will set you free” is one of the more familiar quotes from the Bible. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).

The truth will set you free quote