36 Bible Verses about Slavery, Spiritual

They answered to him, We are Abraham's seed, and have been in bondage to no man, ever. How can thou say, Ye will become free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, that every man who does the sin is a bondman of the sin. And the bondman does not remain in the house into the age. The Son remains into the age.read more.
If therefore the Son should make you free, ye will truly be free.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body in order to obey it, in its lusts. And do not present your body-parts as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God, as living out of the dead, and your body-parts as instruments of righteousness to God, for sin will not have dominion over you. For ye are not under law, but under grace.read more.
What then? May we sin, because we are not under law but under grace? May it not happen! Know ye not, that to what ye present yourselves as bondmen for obedience, ye are bondmen to what ye obey, whether of sin for death, or of obedience for righteousness? But thanks to God, that ye were bondmen of sin, but ye obeyed from the heart a model of doctrine for which ye were delivered. And having been set free from sin, ye were made servile to righteousness

What will we say then? The law is sin? May it not happen! Yet I did not know sin except through law. For likewise I would not have known lust, if the law did not say, Thou shall not covet. But sin, having taken opportunity through the commandment, wrought in me every evil desire, for apart from law sin is dead. And I was alive once apart from law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.read more.
And I found to me, the commandment being for life, this is for death. For sin, having taken opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. So the law is indeed holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Has therefore what is good become death to me? May it not happen! Instead, it is sin, so that it might be revealed, sin working death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin might become sinful to extreme. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, having been sold under sin. For I do not understand what I do, for I do not do this that I want, but what I hate, this I do. But if I do this that I do not want, I agree with the law that it is good. But now I no longer perform it, but the sin dwelling in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, for to will is present in me, but to do the good, I find not. For I do not do good that I want, instead, wrong that I do not want, this I do. But if I do this that I do not want, I no longer perform it, but sin dwelling in me. Consequently I find the law in my wanting to do good, that evil is present in me. For I delight in the law of God according to the inner man, but I see a different law in my body-parts, warring against the law of my mind, and taking me captive in the law of sin, which is in my body-parts. I am a wretched man. Who will rescue me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I of myself in the mind indeed serve a law of God, but in the flesh a law of sin.

For we also were formerly foolish, disobedient, being led astray, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in evil and envy, hateful, hating each other.

promising them freedom, while they themselves are bondmen of corruption, for by what any man has been overcome, of this he has also been enslaved.

Stand firm therefore in the liberty in which Christ freed us, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

But I say the heir, for as long a time as he is a child, differs nothing from a bondman though he is lord of all. Instead he is under stewards and managers until the time appointed from the father. And so when we were children, we 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 from a woman, born under law, so that he might redeem those under law, so that we might receive the sonship. And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So that thou are no longer a bondman but a son, and if a son, then an heir through Christ.

For ye did not receive a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Since therefore the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might make him who has the power of death impotent, that is, the devil. And he might liberate these, as many as throughout all their lifetime were deserving of bondage, with a specter of death.

Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, having seen that his hour has come that he would depart out of this world to his Father, having loved his own in the world, he loved them to the end. And supper having occurred, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, that he would betray him, Jesus, having seen that the Father has given all the things to him, into his hands, and that he came from God, and goes to God,read more.
rises from supper, and set his garments aside, and after taking a towel, he girded himself. Then he pours water into the wash-basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. So he comes to Simon Peter, and that man says to him, Lord, do thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou do not know now, but thou will understand after these things. Peter says to him, Thou may, no, not wash my feet into the age. Jesus answered him, If I may not wash thee, thou have no part with me. Simon Peter says to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and head. Jesus says to him, He who is bathed has no need to wash the feet either, but is entirely clean. And ye are clean, but not all. For he knew the man betraying him. Because of this he said, Ye are not all clean. When therefore he washed their feet, and took his garments, having sat down again, he said to them, Do ye understand what I have done to you? Ye call me, Teacher, and, Lord. And ye say well, for I am. If I then, the Lord and the teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash each other's feet. For I have given you an example, so that just as I have done to you ye also should do. Truly, truly, I say to you, a bondman is not greater than his lord, nor is an apostle greater than he who sent him. If ye have seen these things, blessed are ye if ye do them.

But having summoned them, Jesus said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord over them, and their eminent men have power over them. But it shall not be so among you. Rather whoever wants to become great among you, he shall be your helper, and whoever wants be first among you shall be your bondman.read more.
Just as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

And having summoned them, Jesus says to them, Ye know that those who presume to rule over the Gentiles, lord over them, and their great men have power over them. But it is not so among you. Instead, whoever may want to become great among you, will be your helper, and whoever of you may want to become first, will be a bondman of all.read more.
For the Son of man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Indeed have this way to think in you, that also was in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God something to seize and hold. But he emptied himself, having taken a form of a bondman, having become in a likeness of men.read more.
And having been found in a form like a man, he lowered himself, having become obedient until death, even of death from a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the heavenly, and the earthly, and the sub-earthly, and that every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

But now having been made free from sin, and having become servile to God, ye have your fruit for sanctification, and the end, eternal life.

No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or he will hold to one, and disparage the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Paul, a bondman of Jesus Christ, a called apostle separated for the good-news of God

And all things, anything whatever ye may do, work from soul as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from Lord ye will receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.

James, a bondman of God and of Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting.

As free, and not having your freedom as a cover-up of evil, but as bondmen of God.

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

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to flesh. For if ye live according to flesh, ye are going to die, but if in spirit ye kill the deeds of the body, ye will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.read more.
For ye did not receive a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit, that we are children of God. And if children, also heirs, heirs indeed of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer jointly, so that we may also be glorified jointly.

I no longer call you bondmen, because the bondman does not know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, because all things that I heard from my Father, I made known to you.

Was not Abraham our father made righteous from works, having offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou see that faith was working with his works, and from the works, faith was fully perfected. And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness, and he was called a friend of God.

Jesus therefore said to those Jews who believed him, If ye remain in my word, ye are truly my disciples, and ye will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. They answered to him, We are Abraham's seed, and have been in bondage to no man, ever. How can thou say, Ye will become free?read more.
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, that every man who does the sin is a bondman of the sin. And the bondman does not remain in the house into the age. The Son remains into the age. If therefore the Son should make you free, ye will truly be free.

Tell me those desiring to be under law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one from the servant girl, and one from the freewoman. But in fact, the man from the servant girl was born according to flesh, but the man from the freewoman through promise.read more.
Which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants, indeed one from mount Sinai giving birth for bondage, which is Hagar. For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren woman not giving birth. Burst forth and shout, thou not suffering birth pains, because many more are the children of the desolate than of her who has the husband. Now we, brothers, who correspond to Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then, the man who was born according to flesh persecuted the man according to Spirit, so also now. Nevertheless, what does the scripture say? Send away the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will, no, not inherit with the son of the freewoman. So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant girl, but of the freewoman.

What then? May we sin, because we are not under law but under grace? May it not happen! Know ye not, that to what ye present yourselves as bondmen for obedience, ye are bondmen to what ye obey, whether of sin for death, or of obedience for righteousness? But thanks to God, that ye were bondmen of sin, but ye obeyed from the heart a model of doctrine for which ye were delivered.read more.
And having been set free from sin, ye were made servile to righteousness (I speak man-like because of the weakness of your flesh). For as ye presented your body-parts servile to uncleanness, and to lawlessness for lawlessness, so now present your body-parts servile to righteousness for sanctification. For when ye were bondmen of sin, ye were uninhibited by righteousness. What fruit therefore did ye have then, of which things ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been made free from sin, and having become servile to God, ye have your fruit for sanctification, 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 although being free from all men, I made myself a servant to all, so that I might gain the more.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves are your bondmen through Jesus.

For ye, brothers, were called to liberty, only not liberty for an opportunity to the flesh, but be servants to each other through love.

Who then is the faithful and wise bondman, whom his lord appointed over his service, to give them the provision on time? Blessed is that bondman, whom his lord when he comes will find so doing. Truly I say to you, that he will appoint him over all things being possessed by him.read more.
But if that evil bondman should say in his heart, My lord is late coming, and should begin to beat the fellow bondmen, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the lord of that bondman will come in a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he is not aware, and he will cut him in two, and place his share with the hypocrites. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his lord will appoint over his service to give the provision on time? Blessed is that bondman whom his lord when he comes will find so doing. Truly I say to you, that he will appoint him over the things being possessed by him.read more.
But if that bondman should say in his heart, My lord is late to come, and should begin to beat the servant boys and the servant girls, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, the lord of that bondman will arrive in a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he is not aware, and will cut him in two, and will place his portion with the unbelieving.

For, like a man going on a journey, he called his own bondmen, and delivered to them the things possessed by him. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his personal ability, and straightaway he journeyed. And having departed, the man who received the five talents worked with them, and made five other talents.read more.
And likewise also the man of the two gained two others. But having departed, the man who received the one dug in the ground, and hid his lord's silver. Now after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes, and takes up accounting with them. And having come, the man who received the five talents brought five other talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered five talents to me, lo, I have gained five other talents besides them.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And having called ten of his bondmen, he gave them ten minas and said to them, Do business until I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy behind him, saying, We do not want this man to reign over us.read more.
And it came to pass for him to return, having taken the kingdom. And he said for these bondmen to be called to him, to whom he gave the silver, so that he might know what any man gained by trading. And the first came, saying, Lord, thy mina gained ten minas. And he said to him, Well, thou good bondman. Because thou became faithful in the least, be thou having authority over ten cities.

But which of you having a bondman plowing or feeding livestock, who, when he comes in from the field, will straightaway say, After coming near, sit down? Will he not rather say to him, Prepare what I may dine, and having gird thyself, serve me until I eat and drink, and after these things thou will eat and drink? Does he have a favor for that bondman because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.read more.
Thus ye also, when ye did all the things that were commanded you, say, We are unprofitable bondmen, because we have done what we are obligated to do.

For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was made subject to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope. Because the creation itself will also be freed from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.read more.
For we know that the whole creation is groaning and travailing together until now.