SCRIPTURE: John 8:31-32

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION to “The Truth Shall Make You Free”

We hear the statement, “The truth shall make you free.” often in our surroundings. It is one that has been around for a long time and has been used in many different ways. But, does the truth always make us free? It depends on the circumstances or the context in which the statement is used. Drug abuse counselors have been noted for telling their clients that telling themselves the truth or owning up to having a drug addiction is the first step on their road to recovery. In that case, I believe and many others would agree that is true. However, revealing the truth about one’s circumstances could potentially lead to further harm or danger, rather than freedom. For example, consider a victim of domestic abuse who is living with their abusive partner. If they were to speak out about the abuse, they may face retaliation from their partner, which could potentially escalate the violence and danger they are experiencing. In this situation, speaking the truth may not necessarily set the victim free, but could instead put them at greater risk. These are two examples of the manner in which this statement has been used, however, neither one reflects the meaning that is derived from the original meaning of it. As far as we can tell, the statement came from the Bible and most writers and theologians credit the Apostle John for first writing it. But what does it really mean? To understand that, we will examine the context in which it was said and then analyze the content of the statement.

 

THE MESSAGE

The Context in Which It Was Said That The “Truth Shall Make You Free”

The context of that passage was when Jesus attended the “Feast of the Tabernacle” which was one of the three annual feasts that were mandatory for all Israelite males (Deut 16:16). Jesus was hesitant about attending since He knew the religious leaders were seeking to kill him. It was circulating among the Jews that one reason the leaders wanted to kill Jesus was that earlier in the Scriptures, He healed a man on the Sabbath day that had been sick for 38 years (John 5:5-15). Another reason why they said they wanted to kill Him was that Jesus said God was his Father, making himself equal to God (John 5:18). However, Jesus obviously saw these two reasons as facades because He said the reason they wanted to kill Him was that the world hated him because He “… testifies of it that its works are evil” (John 7:7). In other words, Jesus said they wanted to kill Him because He accused the Scribes and Pharisees of not teaching from the right principle, as of faith and love nor to a right end, as the glory of God; but only to be seen of men. There was a lot of hypocrisy going on. (Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible) Nonetheless, Jesus secretly attended this seven-day feast (John 7:10) and, in the middle of the feast, He began teaching in the temple court (John 7:14)(NIV).

As Jesus continued to teach, his presence became more apparent. Consequently, the religious leaders gained awareness of his presence and issued orders to arrest him; however, his “hour had not yet come” (The Jews believed it was not yet time for Jesus to die.) (John 7:30). In the meantime, as He continued to teach, there came a more pronounced division between the Scribes and the Pharisees. Some said He had a demon (John 7:20), but a number of the listeners were fascinated by his teachings and believed in Him (John 7:31, 8:30). It was at this point the Scripture said: “31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

In summary, the scene takes place during the “Feast of the Tabernacle” where Jesus hesitates to attend due to religious leaders plotting to kill him. Despite disagreement over the reasons for his potential harm, Jesus teaches during the feast, causing a greater divide among the Jews. Some accuse him of having a demon, while others believe he is a man from God. It was, under those circumstances, Jesus spoke to those who believed Him the “…truth shall set you free.” statement.

 

Examination of Content:

 To understand the message, let us do a closer read of the Scripture by focusing on the keywords:

 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word,” you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31-32

Jesus’s words in John 8:31-32 carry a powerful message for all who believe and follow Him. The word “Believe” is a word of utmost importance in this Scripture because, if the Jews do not believe, the entire Scripture is “dead”; it means nothing. What does “believe” mean? The dictionary definition of “believe” is to accept something as true, genuine, or real. However, in theological circles and in the Bible, “believe” is synonymous with “faith.” It encompasses three elements. First, it involves accepting Jesus for who He claims to be (the intellectual element). Next, our souls awaken to our personal needs and yearn for the benefits of His redemptive powers (the emotional element). Finally, we develop a sense of trust and entirely surrender ourselves to God for all things, both now and forever (the voluntary element). This definition finds support in scriptures such as Luke 18:8, Acts 6:7, 1 Timothy 4:1, 6:10, and Jude 3. The passage is also conditional on our choices, as the word “if“ makes the promise, contingent on whether we choose to continue following Jesus. To “abide” in His word means to continue with Jesus or to follow him, as illustrated in the parable of the Good Shepherd. “My word” means the same as “the Word”, “the Word of God” or “the truth.” To be a “disciple” of Jesus means to be a dedicated adherent to his teachings and only his teachings. “Indeed” means to truly be a disciple of Jesus, which implies recognizing his voice and following him alone. To “Know the truth” means being able to determine whether the words spoken are from God or from man and whether they bring glory to God or to man. Ultimately, the truth shall make us “free” from the bondage/slavery of sin and lead us to eternal life with Jesus.

 

The Simplified Statement:

Then Jesus said to those Jews who truly trusted him for being who He said He was, “Contingent on whether you continue to follow My words or the Word of God (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them), you are truly my followers/adherents. And you shall be able to determine or recognize whether the words spoken are from God or the man himself. And if they are from God, those words will free you from the bonds of sin (slavery).”

 

The True Meaning of the “Truth shall Make You Free”:

This passage suggests that the statement “the truth shall set you free” was not intended to be taken lightly or casually. Rather, it was a call to salvation for all people, especially the Jews of Jesus’ time. Jesus was speaking to a group of people who were spiritually blind, unable to discern truth from lies, and unable to grow spiritually. He knew that the religious leaders of his time were teaching falsehoods and trivialities that had no spiritual value. He called on the people to believe in Him and to abide by His word, which is the truth that sets people free.

Jesus’ message is no longer limited to the Jews of his time but rather is intended for all people of all times. He knew that spiritual blindness was a universal problem that could only be overcome by believing in Him and abiding by His word. By doing so, people would be freed from the consequences of sin and be able to grow spiritually. Therefore, the statement, “The truth shall make you free.” should not be taken lightly; but rather should be seen as a pathway to salvation for all people.

 

CONCLUSION:

The statement “The truth shall make you free” has been widely quoted and valued in various ways, both positive and negative, over a long period of time. However, it is evident that many of these interpretations do not align with the original meaning. The original meaning conveys a positive and life-saving message, emphasizing the belief in God through Jesus Christ, which leads to eternal life. The only negative implication of this statement would apply to those who reject His word, as stated in John 3:18: “…but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

All glory to God!!

 

See the related post for additional information: /spiritual-food-keep-growing-feed

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all Bible Scriptures come from the New King James Version of the Bible.