Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’?"

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

The people with whom Jesus was talking in this passage had a mental imagery of slavery. Whenever anyone said slavery, they saw a picture of their ancestors being confined, imprisoned and forced to live in exile from their homeland. Therefore when Jesu…