When I think about freedom, I immediately think about truth, as freedom and truth are intertwined. 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.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become 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 know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” John 8:31‭-‬38 ESV As "the truth will set you free" is often a highlighted quote from Jesus (and often blatantly abused), his follow up is even better as the Pharisees (strict, religious, thinking they're holier than everyone else) are unsure of what's causing them to not be free already, as they aren't slaves to anyone or anything, or so they think. But Jesus immediately lays out the details, stating enslavement to sin can come in many forms, as he speaks to those who seemingly (to others and themselves) have no sin and do no wrong as they follow the rules and law. He goes on to show that God ("my Father" or Yahweh) is not the sole father of all men, but some serve their father the devil while claiming to be of Yahweh. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:13‭, ‬15 ESV *Verse 14 doesn't exist This couples with the tares and wheat parable from Matthew 13 and shows that God can't be blamed for every negative act or action, as we don't have enough evidence to show that he created the devil to be evil, but rather, that the devil had extreme autonomy, fell from pride, yet is allowed to be the ruler of this world. Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:36‭-‬43 ESV Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:30‭-‬32 ESV I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. John 14:30‭-‬31 ESV Despite Jesus not being ruler, we still know the outcome. ... concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:11 ESV The root of the Pharisees enslavement is sin, even more, Jesus said they're children of the devil, yet appear and act holy to the public. Pay attention to how many rules, restrictions and boundaries are placed on us by ourselves rather than by God, as those restrictions are the antithesis of freedom just as much as hiding or distorting the truth. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV