36 Bible Verses about Slavery, Spiritual

They answered him: We are the posterity of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How say you, You shall be made free? Jesus answered them: Verily, verily I say to you, whoever works sin is the servant of sin. The servant continues not in the house forever; but the Son continues forever.read more.
Therefore, if the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Therefore, let not sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey it; and present not your members to sin, as instruments of unrighteousness: but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead; and your members to God, as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under law, but under grace.read more.
What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? It can not be. Know you not, that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obey, his servants you are whom you obey, whether of sin that leads to death, or of obedience that leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that though you were the servants of sin, yet you have obeyed from the heart the form of teaching, in which you have been instructed; and being made free from sin, you have be come the servants of righteousness.

What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? It can not be. Indeed, I had not known sin, except through law. For I had not known evil desire, unless the law had said: You shall not have any evil desire. But sin, taking occasion through the commandment, rendered active within me every evil desire. For without the law, sin was dead. Indeed, I was alive with out the law, once; but when the commandment came, sin be came alive, and I died:read more.
and the commandment, which was given for life, I found to be for death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Therefore, the law is holy, and the commandment, holy and just and good. Has, then, that which is good become death to me? It can not be. But sin, that it, might appear sin, was causing death to me through that which is good, in order that sin, through the commandment, might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold into bondage to sin. For what I do, I know not: for that which I wish to do, this I do not; but that which I hate, this I do. If, then, I do that which I wish not to do, I give assent to the law, that it is good. Now, then, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good; for to will is present with me; but to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I wish to do, I do not; but the evil that I wish not to do, this I do. Now, if I do that which I wish not to do, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find, then, this law: That, when I wish to do good, evil is present with me. For, in the inward man, I delight in the law of God: but I perceive another law in my members, at war with the law of my mind, and making me a captive to the law of sin, which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body that subjects me to death? I thank God that I shall be delivered through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I my self, with the mind, serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.

For we ourselves also were formerly foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one an other.

While they promise them freedom, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for by whatever any man is overcome, he is also enslaved.

Stand firm, therefore, in the freedom with which Christ has made us free, and be not held fast again in the yoke of bondage.

But I say, that the heir, as long as he is a minor, differs in no respect from a servant, though he is owner of all; but is under guardians and managers till the time appointed by the father. So, also, we, when we were minors, were in bondage under the rudiments of the world.read more.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might buy off those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So, then, you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, an heir also of God, through Christ.

For you have not again received the spirit of bondage, that you may fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father.

Since, then, the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also, in like manner, partook of the same, that, through his death, he might deprive of power him that has the power of death, that is, the devil; and might set free those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come that he must go out of this world to his Father; and having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them to the end. And supper being over, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to deliver him up, Jesus, knowing that the Father had delivered all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was going to God,read more.
arose from supper, and laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, he girded himself. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. Then he came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him: What I am doing you know not now, but you will know here after. Peter said to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Simon Peter said to him: Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head. Jesus said to him: He that has bathed needs nothing else save to wash his feet, but is wholly clean. And you are clean, but not all. For he knew who would deliver him up; for this reason he said, You are not all clean. Therefore, when he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, he reclined at table again, and said to them: Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. If, then, I, your Lord and your Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also may do as I have done for you. Verily, verily I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you, if you do them.

But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles act as lords over them, and their great men have authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whoever will be first among you, let him be your servant;read more.
even as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

But Jesus called them to him, and said to them: You know that those who think they rule the Gentiles, act as lords over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, shall be your minister; and whoever among you desires to be first, shall be servant of all.read more.
For the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not think it an act of robbery to be equal with God; but he divested himself by taking the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men:read more.
and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient even to death, the death, indeed, of the cross. For which reason God has highly exalted him, and, also, bestowed on him a name that is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those who are in heaven, and those who are on earth, and those who are under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

But now, since you have been made free from sin, and have become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, eternal life.

No one can serve two masters: for he will either hate the one and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and neglect the other. You can not serve God and riches.

No servant can serve two masters; for he will either hate the one, and love the other; or he will cleave to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve God and riches.

PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

And whatever you do, do from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.

JAMES, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion, greeting.

as being free, and yet not using your freedom as a cloak for malice, but as servants of God.

SIMON PETER, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained faith, equally as precious as our own, in the plan of justification revealed by our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if, through the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.read more.
For you have not again received the spirit of bondage, that you may fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and, if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.

I no longer call you servants, because the servant knows not what his master does. But I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.

Then said Jesus to those Jews that believed on him: If you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him: We are the posterity of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How say you, You shall be made free?read more.
Jesus answered them: Verily, verily I say to you, whoever works sin is the servant of sin. The servant continues not in the house forever; but the Son continues forever. Therefore, if the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not understand the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; one by a bondmaid, and one by a free woman. But the one by the bondmaid was born according to the flesh; the other, by the free woman, was by promise.read more.
These things are allegorized: for these women are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai that brings forth for bondage, which is Hagar. For Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free; and she is the mother of us all. For it is written: Rejoice you barren, that do not bear: break forth and cry aloud, you that travail not: for many more are the children of the deserted, than of her that had the husband of the deserted. We, indeed, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as then, he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was born ac cording to the Spirit, so even now. But what says the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. Therefore, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free- woman.

What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? It can not be. Know you not, that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obey, his servants you are whom you obey, whether of sin that leads to death, or of obedience that leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that though you were the servants of sin, yet you have obeyed from the heart the form of teaching, in which you have been instructed;read more.
and being made free from sin, you have be come the servants of righteousness. I speak of what is common among men, oil account of the weakness of your flesh: for as you have presented your members as servants to uncleanness, and to lawlessness, in order to lawlessness, so now present your members as servants to righteousness, in order to holiness. For when you were the servants of sin, you were free with respect to righteousness. What fruit, therefore, had you at that time, in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now, since you have been made free from sin, and have become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal "life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For, though I am free from all men, yet have I made my self a servant to all, that I may gain the more.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants, for Jesus sake.

For you have been called to freedom, brethren: only use not your freedom as an occasion for the flesh, but become servants to one another, through love.

Who then is that faithful and wise servant, whom his master has made ruler over his household servants, to give them their food in due time? Blessed is that servant, whom his master, when he comes, shall find so doing. Verily I say to you, That he will make him ruler over all his goods.read more.
But if that wicked servant shall say in his heart, My master delays his coming; and shall begin to strike his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken; the master of that servant will come in a day in which he looks not for him, and at an hour which he knows not, and will cut him in two, and appoint him his part with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And the Lord said: "Who, then, is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his servants, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Of a truth, I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has.read more.
But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to strike the men-servants and the maid-servants, and to eat and to drink, and to be drunk; the lord of that servant will come in a day in which he looks not for him, and at an hour which he knows not; and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.

For as a man, on leaving his country, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods: To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one; to each one, according to his own ability, and immediately left his country. Then he that had received the five talents, went and traded with them, and made other five talents.read more.
In like manner also, he that had received the two, gained other two. But he that had received the one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled with them. And he that had received the five talents came and brought other five talents, and said: Lord, you delivered to me five talents: see, I have gained other five talents in addition to them.

He said, there fore: A certain nobleman went into a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, Engage in trade till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.read more.
And it came to pass, that, when he had returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded those servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know what each had gained by trading. And the first came and said: Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him: Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.

Which of you that has a servant plowing, or feeding a flock, will say to him immediately, when he comes in from the field, Go and recline at table? But will he not say to him, Make ready my supper, and gird yourself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunk; and afterward, you shall eat and drink? Does he thank that servant, because he did what was commanded? I think not.read more.
So also you, when you shall have done all things that you arc commanded to do, say, We are unprofitable servants; for we have done what was our duty to do.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature was subject to frailty, (not by its own will, but for his sake who subjected it,) in hope, that even the creature itself shall be made free from the bondage of corruption, and introduced into the glorious liberty of the children of God.read more.
For we know that every creature groans, and is in pain together, till now: