May 20, 2023

Scales of Justice

“The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. ‘So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”

 John 8:35-38 (NASB)

            Weighted scales are not used much today. We use electronic devices now. They were a common device used in Jesus’ day. Many times the scales were weighted in favor of the one trading, for greater profit. The problem we face is, our scales are grossly out proportioned when it comes to God’s righteousness and our ungodliness. The two are on opposite sides. We need to be freed from our bondage, and it takes an act of God to make this happen.

            “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.” Over the course of history, slavery was a reality. It still has effects today in parts of the world, even though it is a thing of the past here. In the past, slaves had no promise of where they might reside from one time to another. Families were split in the name of profit. Unfair as it was, it occurred. No one can deny it. During this time, the slave had no permanent place in the house of his master. He could be sold, exchanged, or cast out. The son, however, had the permanent privilege of the family. The heir had a permanent place. The son had all the benefit and access to everything. He could go wherever he wanted. He could stay as long as he desired. On the other hand, the slave had none of these rights. The point made to the Jews is, “If you are a slave to sin, the son’s freedoms are not yours.”[1] When Jesus said in verse 34, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin,” this is exactly what He meant. A slave cannot be delivered unless the master commits an act of grace to release him from his bondage. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus wanted to free them, and He was their Master.

            “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” Lineage is important to Jewish thinking. Those after Abraham add to their lineage. Every Jew could point to their lineage, but the One person who was missing was God.  “…their concept of inheritance was also in jeopardy. Because they were slaves, they were not actually sons or children who would inherit or who would remain in the house of the master. Jesus acknowledged that they may have been Abraham’s “seed,” but their desire to kill Jesus indicated that they had another father who was directing their lives (8:38).[2] Jesus claimed to be sinless, not a slave to sin. He and the Father are One. Because of His perfection, He was able to provide forgiveness to all who were slaves to their sinfulness.

            We all have something to be thankful for today. Jesus has given each of us freedom from the bondage that we so rightfully deserve. We as Christians were bought by the Son’s sacrifice. We should be thankful each day the scales were balanced in our favor to make us righteous before a holy God, for if not, we would face judgment. And then cast out into darkness…

[1] R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 248.

[2] Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 304.