What did Jesus mean when He said 'the truth will set you free' (John 8:32)?

TL;DR:

Jesus said the truth brings spiritual freedom. Christ is the truth that frees us from the bondage of sin.

In John 8:31–32 Jesus declared, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Some of those present responded that they were already free and had never been enslaved (John 8:33). Jesus was not referring to physical freedom but to freedom from sin (John 8:34–36). Even so, Israel was at that time living under Roman rulership. Historically the Israelites had been enslaved—most notably in Egypt and also taken captive in Babylon. So the claim of never having been enslaved is rather ridiculous. Jesus told them, “I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father” (John 8:37–38). In short, they simply did not believe.

But, the greater point is the freedom Jesus promises. The Old Testament records prophets sharing God’s future vision for His people, including freedom from physical captivity. But the physical captivity the Israelites experienced in the Old Testament was less damaging than the spiritual captivity they faced from breaking fellowship with God through disobedience. That type of captivity is what Jesus discusses when He explains that those who practice sin are enslaved by it (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). Only Christ can free us from sin (John 8:36). He is the truth who sets us free (John 14:6). The psalmists recognized that following God was freeing, not burdensome (Psalm 86:11; 119:43–45). Similarly, Christ’s “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Christ is “the way, and the truth, and the life” who gives true spiritual freedom to those who follow Him (John 14:6). Through Him, we are “free indeed” (John 8:36).

from the old testament

In Psalm 119:43–45, the psalmist says, “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.” To “walk in a wide place” suggests freedom comes from seeking the Lord’s precepts. Far from finding God’s law restrictive, the psalmist finds hope in it. He connects truth to the freedom he experiences in God’s “rules” and “precepts.”
Chapter 61 of Isaiah communicates God’s mercy and message of future hope and liberation to the rebellious nation of Judah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus ultimately fulfilled this deliverance. Through Christ, we are free from the captivity of sin.

from the new testament

In John 8:31–32, Jesus speaks with the Jews, including the scribes and Pharisees. To some who believed, Jesus asserts, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They took Him to mean physical freedom and said they had never been captive. Jesus clarifies He meant spiritual captivity to sin. Verse 36 reinforces that when Jesus says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus was affirming His authenticity and divinity.
This is even more explicit in John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Jesus doesn't say He is a way. He is the way. True spiritual freedom and salvation come only through Jesus.
God the Father is also identified by Jesus as “true” in John 8:26: “he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” This emphasizes Jesus’ intimate relationship with God the Father, something many Jewish leaders didn’t accept. Jesus accuses those who reject His claim to truth as being children of Satan (John 8:44). The “trueness” of God is contrasted sharply with the “father of lies,” Satan.

implications for today

Today, it’s difficult to know who and what to believe. People sometimes deliberately deceive others—lying, omitting pertinent information, providing false information. This is all the more easy with the advent of AI-generated text, images, and videos. The trusting put their hope in political and even religious figures who are later caught in lies. Even loved ones can sometimes deceive us. But believers have the source of truth that never fails: Christ. We put all our trust in Him. Christ embodies truth, so we believe what He has revealed to us. None of our Lord’s words will return void. He has promised His followers eternal life (John 10:28). Confidence in His promises gives us a different outlook on this world than unbelievers. Our hope doesn’t rest in this life but in the eternal life Christ has guaranteed us. Because of this, we endure the tribulations of this life-–death of loved ones, financial insecurities, loss of relationships, and more. Through these trials, we do “not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Even when we disappoint ourselves by sinning, we rest in the truth of Jesus’ promise of forgiveness when we repent (1 John 1:8—2:6). Through Christ, we are “free indeed” (John 8:36).

understand

Believing in Jesus and living in His ways liberates us from the bondage of sin.
Jesus fulfills God’s promise of true freedom.
Jesus is the truth by which we have access to God and experience eternal freedom.

reflect

How does understanding Jesus as the truth influence your daily decisions and actions?
In what areas of your life do you feel the most trapped by sin, and how can embracing Christ’s truth help you find freedom?
How can you cultivate a deeper trust in Jesus’ promises, especially during times of uncertainty or hardship?

engage

In what ways do people experience spiritual captivity today, and how does the message of Jesus provide hope?
How can we differentiate between truth and deception in our lives, especially considering the influence of technology and media?
In what ways can community and fellowship with other believers help reinforce our understanding of truth and freedom in Christ?