Why did the Jews say to Jesus that they had never been slaves to anyone, even though we know they were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years?

ANSWER:
Let’s read the context from John 8:31–36 (NKJV):

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

The response of these Jews—“We have never been in bondage to anyone”—was clearly untrue from a historical standpoint. The Old Testament is full of accounts showing that the Israelites were, in fact, enslaved and oppressed multiple times:

In Egypt, for over 400 years (Exodus 1:8–14)
In Babylon, during the exile (2 Kings 24–25)
Under the Assyrians, especially the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 17)
Under Persian, Greek, and Roman domination, even in Jesus’ time

So why did they claim they had never been enslaved?

The answer lies not in historical accuracy but in pride and resistance to Jesus’ message. They were not honestly engaging in discussion but rather trying to contradict and discredit Jesus. Their statement reflects a spiritual blindness and arrogance—they were proud of being Abraham’s physical descendants and assumed that this heritage guaranteed their freedom and favor with God.

Yet Jesus wasn’t talking about political or physical bondage, but about spiritual slavery to sin. That’s why He said in verse 34, “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” According to Scripture, all people are born into sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23), and only through Jesus can one be truly set free.

When they continued to argue and even accused Jesus of being a Samaritan and demon-possessed (John 8:48), it showed their hearts were hardened. They were not seeking truth, but rather defending their pride and position—even through lies. Ironically, they knew Jesus was a Jew, the son of Joseph the carpenter (Matthew 13:55), and they even called Him “Rabbi” (John 3:2) at other times. But here, in their rejection, they resorted to slander.

That is why Jesus responded strongly in John 8:44:

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Jesus exposed the true source of their rebellion: Satan, the father of lies.

What does this teach us today?

It teaches us the importance of loving the truth and abiding in God’s Word. If we reject the truth, we become vulnerable to lies—even to the point of opposing God unknowingly. Like the Jews in this passage, people can be outwardly religious but spiritually enslaved.

Only Jesus Christ can set us free—not from human oppressors, but from the deeper bondage of sin, guilt, shame, and eternal death. When we accept Him, we move from being slaves to being children of God (Romans 8:15–17).

Personal Reflection:

Are you truly free? Have you been set free by the Son? These are the last days, and the spirit of the antichrist is already at work in those who reject Christ (1 John 2:18–22). The temptations and distractions of this world cannot save us—they enslave us further. But Jesus came to break those chains.

If you are ready to give your life to Christ and experience true freedom, reach out to us at +255693036618 or +255789001312 for free spiritual guidance.