How many times have you heard someone say “the truth will set you free” when talking about something that may be true but not “the truth” according to the Bible?

When Jesus Christ spoke these words in John chapter 8, he was not talking about just any truth, but the truth of God who sent him. We can see this in the immediate and remote context and in the full scope of scripture.

“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” Deuteronomy 12:12-18.

From the full scope of scripture, we know that Jesus is the prophet God promised in Deuteronomy 15:15-18.

“So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, ….my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true….he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him….I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:13-14, 16-17, 26, 28, 31-32, 34-36, 38, 40, 45-478.

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus in prayer to his God and Father for his disciples said “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John17:17.

From the full scope of Scripture we find the following related passages:

“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Psalm 119:160

“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3

…..Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

So, we need to take care not to handle the word of truth deceitfully. If we take a passage of scripture out of its context to make it say what we want it to say, we no longer have the word of truth.

If we allow Scripture alone (sola scriptura) and all of Scripture (tota scriptura) to speak for itself, we can come to an understanding of “the truth” that will set us free.

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Mark Rohde can be reached at marklrohde@icloud.com.