(31) "Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed Him, If ye abide in My word, then are ye truly My disciples; (32) and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (33) They answered unto Him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man; how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. (35) And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth forever. (36) If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (37) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; yet ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath not free course in you. (38) I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father. (39) They answered and said unto Him, Our father is Abraham. 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 heard from God; this did not Abraham."
Golden Text.—"Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Verse 34.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What does Jesus set forth as the test of true discipleship? Verse 31. Note 1. (2) What will they know who abide in His Word? And what will the truth do for them? What is the truth? Verse 32. Note 2. (3) What did the Jews say in answer to this instruction? Verse 33. Note 3. (4) What answer did Jesus give to this boast? Verse 34. Note 4. (5) How did Jesus contrast the positions of bondservant and son? Verse 35. Note 5. (6) Who only can give us perfect freedom? Verse 36. Note 6. (7) What admission did Jesus make to the Jews? Then what grave charge did He make against them? Verse 37. Note 7. (8) What did Jesus say of the things which He spoke? What of the things which those Jews did? Verse 38. Note 8. (9) What claim did the Jews reiterate? How did Jesus reply to this insistent claim? Verse 39. Note 9. (10) Then what charge did Jesus repeat against the Jews? What kind of Man were they seeking to kill? Of whom had He received the truth which He had told them? How did this compare with the character of Abraham? Verse 40. Note 10.
NOTES.
1. "Truly My disciples."—In verse 31 Jesus makes a clear-cut distinction between professed disciples and "truly" disciples. No matter how honestly and earnestly one may start in the Christian life, it is the continuance in the Word that constitutes the true disciple. And it is not worth the while to try to be anything else. To continue in the Word is to continue in the truth (John 17:17), and the law of God is the truth (Ps. 119:142). To be a disciple, is to love God, and to love Him is to keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23, 24; 1 John 5:2, 3).
2. To "know the truth" is to know Christ, for He is the truth (John 14:6); and to know Him is eternal life (chapter 17:3). Eternal life is the result of being made free from sin, which is "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. This shows us the harmony between Christ and the law. The law condemns the sinner, who is therefore under the condemnation, or curse, of the law. Christ forgives the sin when repented of and confessed, and this takes away the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13), making the erstwhile sinner free from its penalty (chapter 4:4, 5). But this does not take away the law (Rom. 3:31; Matt. 5:17). As shown in Note 1 and the verse to which it applies, the forgiven one must continue in obedience in order to be a true disciple. See, also, Gal. 5:1, and Rom. 6:1-4.
3. The Jews always supposed that being literal descendants of Abraham entitled them to all the benefits of the promises; but even from that standpoint, their boast of never having been in bondage was a false claim; for, in addition to their past history, they were even then in subjection to Rome. But it was necessary for them to accept Christ as their Saviour to make their heirship from Abraham available. In this respect they were only on a par with the Gentiles (Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 3:27-29).
4. In verse 34 Jesus shows the character of the bondage to which He referred. It matters not whether we be bond or free, as far as our persons are concerned, in order to be accepted of Christ, and become heirs of His kingdom. Therefore "let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate; and the rich in that he is made low." James 1:9, 10.
5. The reference to bondservants in verse 35 is a figure drawn from servants in the world; for they have no heirship, excepting by special provision, such as adoption, or other recognition. But the bondservant of Christ is also an adopted child, and heir by promise. See Gal. 4:1-7; Eph. 1:3-5.
6. From what bondage does Christ set men free?—The bondage of sin. He doesn't set servants free from their masters arbitrarily, nor release His disciples from their obligation to Cæsar; but He forgives their sins, setting them free from the dominion of sin. See "Golden Text." When He forgives sin, the forgiven one is free indeed as long as he continues in obedience to the faith. Not so when puny man assumes to forgive sin.
7. Verse 37 refers to the natural seed of Abraham. Christ's word had no place in their hearts—as under the new covenant (Jer. 31:31-33)—therefore their inclination to violate His law, and to commit murder.
8. When Christ refers to the "father" of those who have not His word, or law, in their hearts, He means the devil (John 8:44).
9. In contrast with verse 37, the Lord refers to the spiritual seed in verse 39.
10. Verse 40 shows how far the literal descendants of Abraham had departed from the principles of their father—the very principles to which Christ was calling them back.
