36 Bible Verses about Slavery, Spiritual

They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to any man. How can you say we will be made free? Jesus answered: Truly I tell you every one who commits sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not abide in the house forever. The son abides forever.read more.
If therefore the Son will make you free, you will be free indeed.

Let no sin rule in your mortal body, that you should obey the lustful desires. Also do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness for God. Sin will 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? God forbid! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient servants you are his (voluntary) servants because you obey him? This could be obedience to sin with death in view or obedience to righteousness with holiness in view? But thanks to God, that you were the servants of sin yet you became obedient from the heart to the teachings delivered to you. After being made free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid! I had not known sin except through the law. For I had not known coveting except the law had said: You should not covet. But sin, finding occasion, worked out in me through the commandment all manner of coveting. Apart from the law sin is dead. I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.read more.
The commandment, which was to life, this I found to be to death. For sin, finding occasion, through the commandment deceived me, and through it killed me. The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. Did that which is good become death to me? God forbid! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good. This way sin might be shown to be sin. Through the commandment sin could be recognized. For we know that the law is spiritual. But I am fleshly and sold under sin. I do not understand what I am doing. For what I want to do I do not do. What I hate, I do. But if what I do not want to do, I do, I consent to the law that it is right. Now then it is no longer I that do it, but the sin that dwells in me. I know that good does not live in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it. I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I do the evil that I do not want to do. If I do what I do not want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it. Instead, it is the sin that lives in me. I find that this law is at work. When I want to do what is good, what is evil is the only choice I have. My inner person delights in the law of God. However I see a different law at work in my body. This law fights against the law that my mind approves of. It makes me a prisoner to the law of sin that is at work in my body. Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? Thanks to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then I can serve God's law only with my mind, while my human nature serves the law of sin.

For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

They promise them freedom, while they are bondservants of corruption. A man is brought into bondage by one and enslaved by another.

Christ liberated us for freedom (moral liberty). Stand fast therefore, and do not become entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he does not differ from a bondservant, though he is owner of the estate. He is under guardians and stewards until the day set by the father. When we were children, we too were held in bondage. We were slaves to the arrangement of this world.read more.
When the full time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So you are no longer slaves but a son. And as a son God has made you an heir.

For you have not received a spirit of bondage again causing fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Father, Father! (Chaldee: Abba, meaning father).

Since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same things, that through death he might destroy him that had the power to cause death, [Satan] the Devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus knew before the feast of the Passover that the time had come for him to leave this world and return to his Father. He loved his own who were in the world to the very end. The devil influenced the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son. So he betrayed him during the meal. Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over all things. He also knew it came from God and he returns it to God.read more.
He got up from the meal and laid aside his garments. He wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin and washed the disciples' feet. He wiped them with the towel he was wearing. When he approached, Simon Peter said: Lord do you wash my feet? You do not know what I do now, Jesus said: but you will understand later. Peter said: You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you; you have no part with me. Simon Peter replied: Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus responded: He that is bathed must wash his feet. He is clean everywhere and you are clean, but not all. He knew who would betray him. That is why he said you are not all clean. After he washed their feet he put his outer garments on and sat down. He asked: Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right for I am. If the Teacher and Lord washed your feet you should wash one another's feet. I have given you an example. You should also do as I have done to you. Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master. Neither is one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Jesus called them to himself and said: You know that the rulers of the nations exercise absolute dominion over them. They lord it over them and behave like tyrants. But it will not be so among you. He who will be great among you must be your servant. And he who will be first among you will be your attendant (servant) (minister).read more.
The Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom in payment for many.

Jesus called them together and said: You know that those who rule over the nations lord it over them. Their great ones exercise authority over them. It is not so among you. Whoever would become great among you, shall be your minister (servant) (attendant). Whoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.read more.
For the Son of man also came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Have this attitude (mind-set) (understanding) (mental state) in you that was also in Christ Jesus. He existed in the form (shape and nature) of God but did not try to be equal with God. He did not even consider it! He emptied (humbled) himself by taking the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men.read more.
He obtained the appearance as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient even to death, yes, death on the stake. For this reason God highly exalted him, and gave to him the name that is above every name, (Relative authority given by Jehovah God, the Father to His Son) (Philipians 2:11) that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Now you are free from sin and are servants to God. You have your fruit in holiness, and the end everlasting (eternal) life.

You cannot serve two masters. You will hate one and love the other. You will be loyal to one master and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (wealth) (material possessions).

No one can serve two masters. He will hate one and love the other. He will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed (set apart) for the good news of God,

Whatever you do, work at it without reservation, as to God, and not to men. You know that God will give you the reward of the inheritance when you serve the Master, Christ.

This letter is from James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered.

Be free, and yet do not use your freedom for a covering for evil, but as servants of God.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ:

So then, brothers we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to flesh (human nature), for if you live according to flesh, you are about to die. If by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.read more.
For you have not received a spirit of bondage again causing fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Father, Father! (Chaldee: Abba, meaning father). The Spirit itself (Greek:autos ho pneuma) (itself the Spirit) bears witness with our spirit (mind and heart), that we are children of God. If children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed we suffer with him we may also be glorified with him.

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

Was Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith acted with his works, and works made faith perfect (complete). The scripture was fulfilled which says: Abraham believed Jehovah and it was reckoned (imputed) (considered) (credited) to him for righteousness. He was called Jehovah's friend (Genesis 15:6) ( Isaiah 41:8).

Jesus told the Jews who believed him: If you dwell in my word you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free! They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to any man. How can you say we will be made free?read more.
Jesus answered: Truly I tell you every one who commits sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not abide in the house forever. The son abides forever. If therefore the Son will make you free, you will be free indeed.

Tell me, you that desire to be under the Law; do you not hear the Law? It is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the freewoman. How is it that the son by the slave woman is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise?read more.
This contains an allegory (symbolic drama). These women symbolize two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds to the Jerusalem that now is. She is in bondage with her children. The Jerusalem above is free. She is our mother. It is written, Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth. Break forth and cry, you who do not labor; for there are more children of the desolate than of the one who has the husband. Brothers, we are children who belong to the promise, the same as Isaac was. Just like then, the son who was conceived in a natural way according to the flesh persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That is exactly what is happening now! What do the scriptures say? Throw out the slave woman and her son. For the son of the slave woman must not share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. (Genesis 21:10) Brothers, we are not children of a slave woman but of the free woman.

What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient servants you are his (voluntary) servants because you obey him? This could be obedience to sin with death in view or obedience to righteousness with holiness in view? But thanks to God, that you were the servants of sin yet you became obedient from the heart to the teachings delivered to you.read more.
After being made free from sin, you became servants of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. You once presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to sin. Now you present your members as servants to righteousness and sanctification (purification) (holiness). When you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. You are now ashamed of the fruit you had at that time. For the results of these things is death. Now you are free from sin and are servants to God. You have your fruit in holiness, and the end everlasting (eternal) life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift from God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For, though I am free from all persons, yet I have made myself a servant to all, that I might gain more.

We do not preach about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord. We are your servants for Jesus' sake.

For you brothers, were called for freedom; only do not use your freedom for an occasion to the flesh. Serve one another through love!

Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his lord put in charge of his other servants, to give them their food at the proper time? That servant is blessed when his lord comes and finds him doing his will. I tell you, he will put him in charge of everything he owns.read more.
But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays, so I will beat (mistreat) my fellow servants.' And he eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect it, an hour when he is unaware. He will punish him severely, and send him to be with the hypocrites. There they will cry and grind their teeth.

The Lord said: Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master shall appoint over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? That servant will be blessed when his master comes and finds him doing so. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all that he has.read more.
If that servant says in his heart, my master delays his coming; and beats the other servants and eats and drinks to excess, the master of that servant will come when he does not expect. He will come in an hour that he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

It is like a man going to another country. He called his servants and put them in charge of his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. He assigned according to the servants' ability. Then he went on his journey. Right away the servant who received the five talents traded with them and made another five talents.read more.
In like manner, he who received the two gained another two. He who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came back to settle with them. The servant who received five talents brought another five talents. He said: 'Lord, here are your five talents, plus the five I gained.'

He said: A nobleman traveled to a country far away to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said do business with this until I return. His citizens hated him. They sent a spokesman to him saying we do not want this man to rule us.read more.
He received the kingdom and went back to check on his servants. He wanted to know what they had gained by trading with the money he gave them. The first reported: Your pound has made ten pounds more. He said: Well done, you good servant. You were faithful in very little. Now you shall have authority over ten cities.

Let us say you have a servant who is plowing or looking after the sheep. Do you tell him to hurry and eat his meal when he comes in from the field? No you do not. You say to him get my supper ready. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. After that you may have your meal. Does the servant deserve thanks for obeying orders?read more.
The same applies to you. When you have done all you have been told to do, you say, we are unworthy servants. We have done what we ought to have done.

For the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the manifestation (revelation) (disclosure) of the sons of God. For the creation was subject to corruption, not by it's own will but by reason of the one who subjected it on the basis of hope. The creation will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.read more.
For we know that the whole creation groans and is in pain together until now.