8:33
The people react angrily to Jesus telling them they would be free indeed. Why the reaction? If someone does not realise that they have a problem and someone else tells them that they do have a problem, then it is human nature to react with anger. Jesus’ words imply that they were enslaved, and so needed to be set free. They react that they are Abraham’s offspring and had never been enslaved to anyone. Now if we take this at a superficial level it is manifest nonsense. The Jews had been enslaved by the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks and the Romans. However, it probably meant to be taken on a spiritual level. They think that because they descend from Abraham and have the Law they have the truth and do not need anything.
8:34
Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin”. This is just as relevant today as it was then. Social justice warriors need to recognise that our enslavement to sin is the biggest problem, not any form of social injustice. This does not mean that social justice is of no importance, but we need to recognise the root of the problem. In 1917 the Tsarist regime in Russia was overthrown. The Tsarist regime was evil and despotic, but what took its place was far worse. Even if we are oppressed the sin within is a far greater oppressor than any outward one. If we sin we become slaves to sin.
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