The Truth Shall Make You Free

This is one of those snippets of scripture that has gotten into the popular culture. And, removed from its context, it doesn't always make sense. For example; a prisoner who is in jail because he is guilty would certainly disagree with this quote. The truth put him in jail. So, what is the truth that shall make us free?

First, let's get the immediate context...

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32 KJV

We see that it is a conditional statement, that is, a requirement must be met before we even know the truth, and knowing the truth is required for the truth to free us.

For the truth that shall make us free, let's look a few verses earlier.

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him.
John 8:28-30 KJV

The "truth that makes us free" is that Jesus is revealed as God on the cross. "When you have lifted up the Son of man," Here Jesus is plainly speaking of His coming crucifixion, to us who have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. To those who heard it then, they believed that Jesus would be revealed as God when He was "lifted up" as in honored as the King that would restore the Kingdom to Israel. He had told them plainly before that

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:14 KJV

That serpent was lifted up on a pole. And even just a few verses before He tells them

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:21-24 KJV

They almost get it! He is telling them that they must believe that He is the "I am"! Those that do not believe that Jesus is God will die in their sins. Those that believe that Jesus is God may then be His disciples if they continue in His word. And by continuing in His word they will know the truth and the truth will free them.


This is actually our choice as well, believe that Christ Jesus died for our sins on the cross, or die in our sins and face the judgment to come. We know we are sinners, just by comparing our lives with the Commandments God established. But fortunately, as Paul wrote to the Romans,

the word is near us, even in our mouths and in our hearts. If we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we shall be saved. For with the heart we believe unto righteousness; and with the mouth we confess unto salvation.(Romans 10:8-10)

Technical note: In the King James, and some other translations you will see words that are grey and italicized. The translators did this so that you would know that the word doesn't exist in the original language, but has been added for readability in English. Most of the "I am" statements in the Gospel of John are followed by a grey and italicized he. Therefore this word doesn't exist in the original language! You may have noticed that every time before chapter 8, when Jesus said "I am he", those nearby picked up stones in order to stone Him. They understood that He was claiming to be the I AM, the God who spoke to Moses, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:14). Claiming to be God is the basest form of blaspheme (see the Ten Commandments). So, this Jesus was not only claiming to be the King of the Jews, the Messiah, but also God. "I and my Father are one."(John 10:30 KJV)

Tag(s):truth, gospel