The Truth Maketh Free
1. THEN said Iesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
2. They answered him,
We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Iesus answered them
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant (of sin). And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son (even the Daughter) abideth ever.
3. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed after the flesh; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
4. I speak that which I have seen with my Parent and ye do that which ye have seen with your parent.
They answered and said unto him,
Abraham is our father.
Iesus said unto them,
If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
5. But now ye seek to kill me (a man that hath told you the truth) which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. YE do the deeds of your father.
Then said they to him,
We be not born of fornication; we have one Father (even God).
6. Iesus said unto them,
If God were your Parent, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I (of myself) but the All Holy sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.
7. Ye are of your father (the devil) and the lusts (of your father) ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
8. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
9. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son and Daughter (of man) be lifted up, that whosoever gazeth, believing should not perish, but have everlasting life.
10. Which of you convicteth me of sin ? And if I say, the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
11. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him,
Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hath a demon ?
Iesus answered,
I have not a demon; but I honour the All Holy, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory, but the glory of God. But there is One who judgeth.
12. And certain of the Elders and Scribes from the Temple came unto him saying,
Why do thy disciples teach men that it is unlawful to eat the flesh (of beasts) though they be offered in sacrifice as by Moses ordained.
13. For it is written, God said to Noah, The fear and the dread (of you) shall be upon every beast (of the field) and every bird (of the air) and every fish (of the sea) into your hand they are delivered.
14. And Iesus said unto them,
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias speak of you, and your forefathers, sayings This people draweth nigh unto Me, with their mouths, and honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me[1], for in vain do they worship Me teaching and believing, and teaching for divine doctrines, the commandments of men in my name but to satisfy their own lusts.
15. As also Jeremiah bear witness when he saith, concerning blood offerings and sacrifices I (the Lord God) commanded none of these things in the day that ye came out of Egypt, but only this I commanded you to do, righteousness, walk in the ancient paths, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.[2]
16. But ye did not hearken to Me, Who in the beginning gave you all manner of seed, and fruit (of the trees) and seed having been for the food and healing (of man and beast).
And they said,
Thou speakest against the law.
17. And he said
against Moses indeed I do not speak nor against the law, but against them who corrupted his law, which he permitted for the hardness of your hearts.
18. But, behold, a greater than Moses is here!
And they were wrath and took up stones to cast at him. And Iesus passed through their midst and was hidden from their violence.
LECTION 51. 2. -Many people think that perfect freedom is the power to do wrong as well as right. Such is not Christ's teaching. Freedom is the power to do moral good, nothing else : the other is not freedom, but slavery to the evil nature. This is the teaching of Rosmini and of the Franciscans, and is evidently the teaching of Christ. Other animals than man have the freedom essential to their nature, which, if they are allowed to follow, is a kind of moral good. In a true state of nature, the other animals are found innocent, till corrupted by the cruelty of man. Cont.