What a question! No one would say they want bondage, yet millions live in bondage every day of their own choosing. There are many who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. Some have been martyred, others still sit in prison cells, and then there are millions around the world that are part of the underground church. They love Jesus with all their hearts and seek to serve Him according to the scriptures. Those who are part of the underground church live daily with the fear of death, and yet their hearts are full of joy and peace. They are bound by man, but free by God!
In II Corinthians 3:14, Paul is speaking to those who are of the Jewish faith that have rejected Jesus Christ. When he says “until this day,” he is talking about his time period, yet their rules and laws of religion are still enforced if you are part of their church. Their minds being blinded refers to the hardening of their hearts. They rejected Christ because He did not fit what they had pictured the Messiah to be. He did not come and set up an earthly kingdom and promote them as the dominant people of the world. They were and are, steeped in traditions and pride.
II Corinthians 3:14-15 “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.”
Albert Barnes writes, “Jesus was revealed to them all throughout the Old Testament, but they did not understand the true sense of their own Scriptures. They did not understand its doctrines regarding the Messiah. A veil seems to be thrown over the Old Testament when they read it, as there was over the face of Moses so that the glory of their own Scriptures is concealed from their view, as the glory of the face of Moses was hidden.”
I’ve known many who believed a lie because it fit their desires. It was easier to believe they were ok than to admit they were wrong. They chose to believe a lie. Their hardness stems from their self-sufficiency. John the Baptist was aware of their self-sufficient attitude as they would proclaim their bloodlines linked to Abraham. John tried to teach them the truth, but they chose bondage. In Luke 3:3, John goes throughout the region preaching repentance, and in verse 8 he tells them not to rely on their heritage for eternal life.
Luke 3:3 “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”
When Jesus himself preached to them in John 8:33, they still refused. They thought they were better than others and had no need for repentance. Those who refused Jesus in the past are no different than those who refuse him now. In Luke 18:11, Jesus talked about the Pharisees having this attitude.
Luke 18:11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”
Do you feel you are better than others? Do you take pride in how “good” you are? Your problem is your heart. Your pride and self-sufficiency have hardened your heart to the truth. You are bound but don’t know it. There is no liberty in keeping laws and trying to work your way into something. However, there is great freedom in accepting a gift someone else has paid for. That is what Jesus did for all who would take the gift. He releases the chains of bondage and sets us free. That is liberty!
II Corinthians 3:16-17 “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
