John 8:36

Free indeed. The Jews considered themselves to be the free sons of Abraham and boasted of their liberty (see on v. 33). They were unwilling to acknowledge their bondage, whether literal or spiritual. But their boasted freedom was spurious. Jesus had come to offer them genuine freedom (Rom. 8:2; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1). He alone is free who is free from sin. Those who desire this freedom must apply to the Lord Jesus Christ, and must comply with the conditions. It is His peculiar office and privilege to enfranchise all who accept Him. Only through spiritual freedom could the nation attain to the political freedom they so ardently desired (see Vol. IV, pp. 30-32).