NOTES for Joh 8:31-42
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; |
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. |
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? |
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. |
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. |
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. |
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. |
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. |
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. |
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. |
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. |
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. |
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Jesus speaks about slavery to sin and liberation from it. The phrase "...everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin" completely sweeps away arguments like the claim of a person who smokes or drinks that he can quit smoking or drinking at any moment. Yes, one can stop sinning, but after committing a sin, a person becomes its slave, and being freed is no simple matter. Only the Son can make us free and help us stop. Abiding in His word and knowing the truth, we become His disciples.
It is striking how Jesus emphasizes His role in this liberation. If a master releases a slave (and an evil master will never do this of his own will), the slave ends up on the street, perhaps without means of support or a roof over his head, and anyone can enslave him again in his weakness (see Matt 12:43-45).
In order to receive true liberation, we need the One who will redeem us from the evil master and bring us into His Father's house. Redeemed by His blood, we become sons instead of slaves, but for this our consent and our striving toward the Son are necessary. And then Jesus will share His dwellings with us (see John 14:2).
Readings for 9 May 2026
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