51 Bible Verses about Privileges

For who makes you a differ, brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why are you boasting as if you had not received it?

Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a maiden betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary. The angel went in and said to her. "Joy to you, highly favored one! "The Lord is with you."read more.
Mary was greatly agitated at his word, and was revolving in her mind what this salutation could mean. when the angel said to her. "Fear not Mary, for you have found grace with God. "And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you shall call his name Jesus. "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. "And the Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David, "and he shall reign over the House of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." And Mary said to the angel. "How can this be? For I have no husband?" "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you," said the angel, "and the power of the most High shall overshadow you, and therefore the holy offspring which is born, shall be called the son of God. "And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this was the sixth month with her that was called barren. "For no word of God shall be void of power." Then Mary said: "Behold I am Lord's slave. Let it be to me as you have said." Then the angel departed from her.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is God's gift. It is not of works, so that any one can boast of it;

although I myself might have confidence in outward rites. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I; circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from the Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which comes through law, blameless.read more.
But what was once gain to me, that I have counted loss for Christ. In very truth I count all things but loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and esteem them but refuse that I may gain Christ, and be found in him; not having my own righteousness of the Law, but that alone which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which comes from God, founded upon faith.

For they are Israelites; to them belong the sonship, the Shekinah glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law; the service of the temple, and the promises; theirs are the patriarchs, and of them, as concerning the flesh, is Christ, who is over all, God, blessed forever, Amen.

Then I ask, Did God cast off his people? No indeed. For I also am an Israelite, a son of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God did not cast off his people whom he foreknew. For do you not know what is said in the Scripture about Elijah? how he pleaded with God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have overthrown thine altars; And now I alone am left, and they seek my life.read more.
But what was the answer of God to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. In the same way also at this time there is a remnant chosen by gift of grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer of works; or else grace is no more grace. What then? that which Israel has been seeking for, that he has not obtained; but the chosen have obtained it, and the rest have been hardened. According as it is written, God has given them a spirit of slumber, Eyes that they should not see, Ears that they should not hear, unto this day. As David says. Let their table be made a snare and a trap, And a stumbling-block and a recompense unto them; Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their backs forever. I ask then, "Have they stumbled so as to fall?" No indeed; but by their lapse salvation has come unto Gentiles, "to provoke Israel to jealousy." Now if their stumbling enriches the world, and their loss enriches the Gentiles, how much more must their fulness do!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish in his sight. For in his love he predestined us (such was the good pleasure of his will) to adoption for himself as sons through Jesus Christ,read more.
and to the praise of his glorious grace which he graciously bestowed upon us in the Beloved. It is in him we have deliverance, the forgiveness of our trespasses, through his blood; so abundantly did he lavish upon us the riches of his grace in all wisdom and understanding,

So there is a new creation when any man is in Christ. The old life has passed away, behold, the new is come. And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled me to himself, and gave me the ministry of reconciliation; how that God was in Christ reconciling a world to himself, not reckoning to men their trespasses; and that to me he has entrusted the message of that reconciliation.read more.
On Christ's behalf, then, I come as ambassador. It is as though God was entreating you, through me, on Christ's behalf I beg you to be reconciled to God. Him who knew no sin, in our behalf he has made to be sin; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And among them we all once passed our lives, indulging the passions of our flesh, carrying out the dictates of our senses and temperament, and were by nature the children of wrath like all the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even while we were dead in our trespasses, made us live together with Christ (it is by grace you have been saved).read more.
together with him He raised us from the dead, and together with Christ Jesus seated us in the heavenly realm, in order that he might show to the ages to come the amazing riches of his grace by his goodness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is God's gift. It is not of works, so that any one can boast of it;

For he has delivered us out of the dominion of the darkness, and transplanted us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

because it is through him that we both have access in one spirit to the Father.

Since we stand justified as the result of faith, let us continue to enjoy the peace we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him also we have had our access into this grace in which we have taken our stand, and are exulting in hope of the glory of God.

Since, then, we have a cheerful confidence, brothers, to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, that new and living way, through the veil (that is, his flesh); and since we have a great High Priest over the house of God;read more.
let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled from and evil conscience, and our bodies bathed in pure water.

For you are not come to a palpable and enkindled fire, nor to gloom and darkness and tempest and the blare of a trumpet and an audible voice. Those who heard that voice entreated that no word more should be spoken to them. For they could not endure that which was enjoined, Even if a wild beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned to death;read more.
and so terrible was the scene that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble. On the contrary you are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable hosts of angels, to the festal assemblage and church of the firstborn, registered in heaven, to a Judge who is God of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to his sprinkled Blood whose message cries louder than that of Abel.

And this is eternal life, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness.

Jesus answered him. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man ever comes to the Father but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father too; from now on you know him and have seen him."

But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem from captivity those under law, in order that we might receive our sonship. And because you are sons, God sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Dear, dear Father!"read more.
So each one of you is no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir, too, through God's grace.

For only those are sons of God who are led by God's Spirit. For you have not received a spirit of slavery in order that you should once more be afraid; but you have received a spirit of adoption, in which we cry out, "My Father, my dear Father!" For his Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God;read more.
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; but to share his glory, we must now be sharing his sufferings.

You are all sons of God through your faith in Jesus Christ. For all of you who were baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ. In him there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.read more.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

and have you forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as sons? My son, do not despise the training of the Lord, Nor faint when he corrects you; For it is those whom he loves that he disciplines, And he scourges every son whom he acknowledges. It is for discipline that you are enduring these sufferings. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?read more.
If you are left without discipline, in which all children share, then are you bastards and not sons. Furthermore, our earthly fathers used to discipline us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they only disciplined us for a few days, as seemed good to them; but he does it for our profit, that we may share his holiness. Now no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who have been trained under it.

But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people, that you may show forth the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light??10 you who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who were once without mercy, but now you have found mercy.

Take notice then that no longer are you strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. In him the whole building, fitly framed together, rises into a holy temple in the Lord;read more.
and in him you, too, are continuously built together for a dwelling-place of God through his Spirit.

And turning to his disciples he said privately. "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! "For I tell you that many prophets and kings have longed to see what you see, and have seen it; and to hear what you hear, and have heard it not.'

Now when his disciples came up to him, they said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered. "To you it has been granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it has not been granted. "For whoever holds, to him shall more be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever does not hold, from him shall be taken away even what he holds.read more.
"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says. "Hearing you will hear and not understand; Seeing you will see and not perceive; For the heart of his people is made fat, Their ears are dull of hearing; Their eyes, too, have they closed, Lest some day their eyes should perceive, And their ears should hear, And their heart should understand and turn, And I should heal them. "But happy are your eyes, because they see, and your ears because they hear. "In solemn truth I tell you that many prophets and holy men have seen it not, and to hear what you are hearing, and have not heard it.

When he was alone his followers and the Twelve began asking about the parables. He went on to say to them. "The secret truth concerning the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside everything is told in parables, so that, "for all their looking they may not see, and for all their hearing, they may not understand, lest perchance they should turn and be pardoned.

Then his disciples began to interrupt him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" He answered. "To you it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God; But all others are taught in parables so that seeing they shall not see, and hearing they shall not hear.

"I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father.

Notwithstanding, among those who are mature I do teach philosophy; though not the philosophy of the present age, nor of its rulers who are coming to nought. No, it is God's wisdom that I utter, that hidden wisdom which God had decreed before the world began, unto our glory. None of the rulers of the present age understands it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.read more.
Nay, as it is written. Eye has not seen, Nor ear heard, Neither have entered into man's heart The things which God has prepared For those who love him. Yet God has unveiled them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit fathoms everything, even the abysmal depths of God. For what man knows the depths of man except the man's own inner Spirit? Even so, also, the Spirit of God knows the deeps profound of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which comes forth from God, that we may realize the blessings freely given us by God.

Concerning this salvation the Prophets who prophesied regarding the grace intended for you, diligently sought and searched. They were searching to know to what time, or to what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them kept pointing, when he ever testified beforehand concerning the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were ministering the truths which have now been announced to you, by those who preached the gospel to you, through the help of the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven??ruths into which angels long to look.

"I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

and last of all, as by one born out of due time, he was seen by me also. For I am the least of the apostles, I who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and that grace of his, bestowed upon me, did not prove ineffectual. I labored more abundantly than all the rest, yet not I, but by the grace of God that is with me.

"No man's silver or gold of clothing did I ever covet. "You yourselves know how these hands of mine provided for my needs, and those of my companions. "In all things I have set you an example, how that so toiling, you ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Now, brothers, I wish to tell you about the grace of God which has been manifest in the churches of Macedonia. For although in heavy trial of affliction, their overbrimming happiness, even in spite of their deep poverty, abounded to the opulence of their unselfishness. For I can testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, of their own free will, too, they have given help.read more.
With earnest entreaty they craved of me the privilege of a share in ministering to the saints in Jerusalem. And this not as I had expected, but in accordance with the will of God, they first gave themselves to God and to me. With the result that I have been begging Titus that, as he had been the one to begin the work with you, so he should complete among you this grace also. Now then, as you excel in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and all zeal and in your love to me, see to it that you excel in this grace also. I do not say this by way of command, but by the zeal of others I am trying to prove the reality of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. And I will give you my opinion in this matter; for this offering is fitting in your case, considering that you made a beginning before others, not only in the willingness to do something but also in actually doing something a year ago. So now complete the doing of it also, in order that just as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the accomplishment according to your means. For if there be first willing mind, the gift is accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not. Nor are other people to be relieved, and you to be distressed; but burdens are to be equalized. Now your abundance at this present time present time is a supply for their want, in supply for your want; and so burdens be equalized, even as it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack.

Mark this; he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. But let each give according to the purpose of his heart; not grudgingly of under compulsion. It is a cheerful giver that God loves. And God is able to give you an overflowing measure of every grace, so that all your wants of every kind may be supplied at all times, and you may give of your abundance to every good work;read more.
As it is written. He scattered broadcast, he gave to the poor; His almsgiving continues forever. He who ever supplies seed to the sower, and bread for the food of man, will supply and make plentous your seed, and increase the harvest springing up from your almsgiving. You yourselves will be enriched with all good things, that you may give ungrudgingly; and your gifts, of which I am the agent, will make men give thanks to God.

Let any man look upon us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the secret truths of God. Now it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.

"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent slave, to whom his master has entrusted his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that slave whom his Master, when he comes, shall find so doing. In solemn truth I tell you that he will set him over all his property.read more.
But if, because he is a bad slave, he should say to himself, 'My Master is a long time in coming,' and if he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and to eat or drink with the drunkards, on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour which he does not know, the Master of that servant will arrive and will scourge him severely, and allot him a place among hypocrites, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The Lord answered. "Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his Lord will put in charge of the rations in due time? "Blessed is that slave whom his master on his coming shall find so doing. "Of a truth I tell you that he will put him in charge of his possessions.read more.
"But if that slave should say to himself, 'My master delays his coming,' and should begin to beat the men and the maids, and to eat and drink and to get drunk, "that slave's master will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour when he knows not, and will surely scourge him, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful. "The slave who knew his Lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes, "but he who did not know, but did things worthy of a beating, will receive few lashes. To whom much has been given, from him much will be required, and to whom much is entrusted, of him they will ask the more.

Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is within you, the Spirit whom you have from God? You are not your own; for you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies.

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who must give account; that they may do thus with joy and not with lamentation, for this would be unprofitable to you.

But in the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Let these men go." The jailer reported the words to Paul, saying. "The praetors have sent to release you; so come out, and go in peace." But Paul said: "They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, themselves and take us out."read more.
The lictors reported these words to the praetors, who were frightened when they heard that they were Romans. So they came and conciliated them, and after taking them out of prison, begged them to leave the town.

With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day." Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth. "You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?"

"Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third.read more.
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season." "Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing, It is wonderful in our eyes? "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it.

Presently Jesus began to speak to them in parables. "There was once a man," he said, "who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine-press, built a tower, rented it to tenants, and went abroad. At vintage-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds of the vineyard; but they seized him, and flogged him, and sent him away empty-handed.read more.
Then he sent another slave to them; and this man they knocked over the head and handled shamefully. And he sent another; and him they killed; and many others; beating some, and killing some. He had still one, a Son beloved, He sent him last to them, saying, "'They will reverence my Son.' "But those tenants said to themselves. 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' "So they took him and killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the Vineyard do?" "He will come and put the tenants to death," they said, "and will give the vineyard to others."

Then he began to tell the people this parable. "There was a man who planted a vineyard, and let it out to vine-dressers, and went to another country for a long time. "At harvest-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers, to ask them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dresser beat him and sent him away empty-handed. "Then he sent another slave; and him also they flogged and handled shamefully and sent him away empty-handed.read more.
"Then he sent yet a third, and him to they wounded and threw him out. "Then the master of the vineyard said: "'What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son; it may be that they will reverence him.' "But when the vine-dressers saw him, they reasoned together, saying. 'This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' "So they turned him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the master of the vineyard do to them? "He will come and destroy those vine-dressers, and will give the vineyard to others."

"For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care. "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one??o each according to his individual ability??nd then set out on his travels. "At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more.read more.
"In the same way the one who got two talents made another two. "But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those slaves came, and demanded a reckoning with them. "The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said: "'Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.' "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' replied his master; 'You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master's joy.' "The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said: "'Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.' "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' his master replied, 'You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master's joy.' "Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said: "'Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered; "so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!' "'You wicked and lazy slave,' said his master. 'You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?' Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest. So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has ten talents. (For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.) But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'

So he said: "A certain nobleman went abroad to receive for himself royal power and to return. "And he summoned ten slaves of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, "'Trade with these until I come.' "But this fellow citizens hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, 'We do not wish this man to become our king.'read more.
"And upon his return after he had secured the royal power, he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the money to be called in, so that he might know what they had gained by trading. "And the first came before him, saying, 'Master, your pound has made ten pounds.' "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' "And the second came and said, 'Master, your pound has made five pounds.' "Then he said to him also, 'You shall be over five cities.' "And the next came to him and said, 'Here master is your pound which I was keeping safe in a napkin. "'For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not sow.' "He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow. "'Then why did you not put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might I might have gotten it back with interest?' "Then to those who stood by, he said, 'Take the pounds from him and give it to him who has ten pounds.' "'Master,' they said to him, 'he already has ten pounds.' "'I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has. "'Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.'"