The Truth Shall Make You Free

Today's Gospel contains the saying, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," which is so often misunderstood. It has to do with sin, as Jesus himself says here. But the Jews misunderstood, and misspoke according to their own understanding of it, saying that they had never been in bondage. Had they forgotten Egypt? Or Babylon? Or even in their present, their subservience to Rome? How could they call themselves free in any sense? But such is the nature of rationalization. Neither do we want to hear of our slavery to sin, and rationalize it away. Repentance must lead to the word of Christ, whose redeeming sacrifice alone makes us free. The sermon.