Being Set Free or Being Made Free. Is there a Difference?

John 8:31-32, 36 (KJV):

31 - If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Nearly all Christians have at least heard the above verse(s) (probably many times) or they have read it. It seems to be simple and very direct and truly, it is.

Having said this, I'd like to examine this passage closer, to show how a different choice of word in a translation can really change the entire meaning of this simple and direct truth.

Let's first examine what was said:

Understand that Jesus is talking to Jews, the Pharisees and scribes at the Mount of Olives. He was teaching that day, according to earlier passages in this chapter. The Pharisees were trying (without much success) to get Jesus to fall victim to their "clever traps" and therefore, condemn Himself a heretic with His own words.

Jesus tells them (and us) by continuing in His word, we are His disciples, truly.To "continue in His word" means to obey His commandments and to continue to receive His doctrine (which is from the Father). By doing this we shall be His disciples (pupils or learners). In this discipleship we shall find and know the truth.

This truth shall make us free. God is truth. This brings us to verse 36 which says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" and this (36) is the logical conclusion to verse 32. If The Son (the Truth) makes you free, then you are free from the bondage and dominion of sin. Not only this but it states you are free, indeed. Truly and really free and you shall be blessed with the most valuable freedom. Not free from the chains and oppressions of earthly masters, but from the bondage of sin.

He who sins is a bondservant to sin, but the Son makes us free.

He asks only that we be His disciples, His pupils and keep His commandments (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor (or enemy) as yourself). Then we are MADE free.

Some translations of the Bible use the word "set" (know the truth and the truth shall "set" you free) instead of "make" free. The Greek word translated here is "Eleutheroo" (el-yoo-ther-o'-o). This is a verb, an action word that means to make one free or to endow with liberty.

These two words (set and make) would seem to be of near identical significance in this capacity.

Please allow me to illustrate the small but decisive difference.

When I was a child, I had a dog. A beagle named Blaze. My father used him as one of his hunting hounds. Blaze was a good dog (he once even saved my life). But he was a dog, a hound and he lived within the parameters of his world.

Here's what I mean:

Blaze lived in a doghouse in our back yard. He was attached to a chain as well. At the edge of the chains radius, he had worn the grass down to a smooth dirt path. When he was new, he'd come running at full speed when he'd see you coming with his food, only to choke himself and often send his own feet flying out from under himself when he reached the end of the chain.

It took him awhile to figure out that he'd always get the same result and eventually he knew that there was a line, which he could not cross safely. He was a prisoner and he knew it. Finally, he'd trot up to the line and wait, watching you arrive.The funny thing was, as he became accustomed to his prison and it's confinement, he gave up.

He was a prisoner to his world and master.

Here's where the difference between the words "set and make" come into play.

My father or I could go out and enter Blaze's circle. We could take off his chain and "set" him free. Then, if we did no more than to walk away, he was no better off than if we had left him in bondage. He was still trapped in his mind. He, on his own didn't know any better and though he was set free, he wasn't MADE free.

You see, we had to either put a leash on him or coax him past his radius of imprisonment. He knew that he was a slave and being set free did nothing to improve his lot. Only with the help of his master who would make him free did he find true freedom.

This, in my opinion is the difference between being "set free" and being "made free".

Christ the Master, the Truth doesn't just set us free, He makes us free. We often live as Blaze did, as a bondservant and slave to sin while the most valuable freedom, freedom from the bondage of sin is only given when we know the truth, which is attained through discipleship and we are MADE free by the son.

God Bless You!

-Ed
e.yaekle@yahoo.com