Devotional: Free to Live John 8:32

In the movie The Ten Commandments (1956) Moses asks the question. “What’s wrong with a man wanting to be free?” In the movie the Egyptians, the slave masters, do not think that it is right for a slave to want to be free. They should be content to work and do the will of Pharaoh at the hands of their slave masters. They should be willing to accept their place in life.

Moses is talking about a physical bondage, but he is aware that physical bondage is also bondage of the spirit. Moving forward, we find Jesus in discussion and debate about whom Jesus is and His purpose in His ministering to the people. As Jesus teaches the people some of the religious leaders believe what Jesus is saying. “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free” (Jn. 8:32, NASB).

Now, these Jews are living under the rule of the Roman government. However, for the most part they are not slaves that have masters standing over them, telling them what to do, and controlling every area of their lives. Jesus is talking about a social bondage that includes spiritual bondage.

The people are in bondage to the beliefs and teaching of the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. Their bondage requires them to support the doctrines of the religious leaders. Jesus does not meet the requirements to be the Messiah according to the doctrine of the religious leaders. Jesus reverses the stigma and curses on people because of the ungodly teaching of the religious leaders. Jesus invites these physically free people to be free from their false beliefs. He invites them to see themselves in a different light. He invites them to be free from their condemnation of persons that the religious leaders have condemned.

Jesus invites the church to look again at the Scriptures. He invites us to hear His teaching. He invites us to examine our beliefs and practices based on the doctrines of men. Jesus teaches us that all persons are sinners in need of a savior. We can be free from our own personal sins that hold us bondage in our behaviors and our bondage to hold people that Jesus died for in condemnation and exclusion from the church of Jesus Christ. Jesus invites us to be free to live according to the purpose of God.

Prayer: Father, we ask that You free us from the sins that cause us to condemn others. Amen.