34 Bible Verses about Slavery, Spiritual

They responded to Him, we are the seed of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one: How do You say, that you shall be free? Jesus responded to them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, That every one doing sin is the slave of sin. But the slave abides not in the house forever; the Son abides forever.read more.
If therefore the Son may make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that you should obey the lusts of it: neither present your members arms of iniquity unto sin; but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members arms of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.read more.
What then? can we commit sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? it could not be so. Do you not know, that to whom you present yourselves servants unto obedience, ye are servants to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness? But thanks be unto God, that whereas ye were servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the type of teaching into which ye were delivered: but having been made free from sin, ye became servants unto righteousness.

Then what shall we say? is the law sin? It could not be so; but I did not know sin except through the law: for indeed I had not known lusts, unless the law said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion through the commandment, did work in me all concupiscence; for without law sin was dead. But I was alive at one time without law: but the commandment having come, sin revived,read more.
and I died; and the commandment, which was unto life, the same was unto death. For sin, taking occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it slew me. So the law is indeed holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. Then did that which is good become death to me? it could not be so: but sin, that it may appear sin, through the good was working out death to me, in order that sin may be exceedingly sinful through the commandment. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, having been sold under sin. For that which I do, I know not: for I do that which I do not will; but I do that which I hate. But if I do that which I do not will, I consent to the law that it is beautiful; but now it is no more I that do it, but sin dwelling in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my carnal mind, there dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but to do that which is beautiful is not: for the good which I will I do not; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. If I do that which I do not will, it is no longer I that do it, but sin dwelling in me. Then I find a law, that, to me wishing to do that which is beautiful, that the evil is present with me: for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Thanks be unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord: then therefore with the mind I serve the law of God; but with carnality the law of sin.

For when we also were without understanding, being disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in sin and envy, hateful, hating one another;

promising them liberty, they themselves being the slaves of corruption: for to whatsoever any one has been subordinated, to this he has become enslaved.

Christ has set you free with freedom, Therefore stand, and be not again entangled with the yoke of bondage.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but you received the Spirit of adoption, in which we cry; Father, Father.

Then since the children have inherited blood and flesh, he likewise also received the same, in order that through death he might set at nought him who has the power of death, that is, the devil; and might reconcile them whosoever were subject to bondage all their life through the fear of death.

And before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that the hour has come when He must depart out of this world to His Father, having loved His own who were in the world, with divine love, He loved them perfectly. And the supper being on hand, the devil already having entered into the heart, that Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, should betray Him, knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and He came out from God, and is going away to God,read more.
He rises from the supper, and lays aside His garments, and taking a towel, girded Himself; then He pours water into a bowl, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He comes to Simon Peter; he says to Him; Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus responded and said to him, What I do you know not now; but shall understand hereafter. Peter says to Him, You may never wash my feet. Jesus responded to him, If I wash thee not, thou hast not part with me. And Simon Peter says to Him, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head. Jesus says to Him, He that is bathed hath no need to wash his hands, but is altogether clean: and you are clean, but not all. For He knew the one betraying Him. On this account He said, You are not all clean. Then when He washed their feet, and took His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you speak beautifully; for I am. If then I, your Lord and Master, washed your feet, you ought also to wash the feet of one another. For I have given unto you an example, that you may also do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; nor the apostle greater than him that sent him. If you know these things, happy are ye if you may do them.

But Jesus calling them to Him, said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and the great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whosoever may wish to be great among you, shall be your servant; and whosoever may wish to be first among you, shall be your slave:read more.
as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His soul a ransom for many.

And Jesus calling them to Him, says to them: You know that those seeming competent to rule the Gentiles domineer over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever may wish to be great among you, shall be your servant: and whosoever of you may wish to be first, shall be the slave of all:read more.
for the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His soul a ransom for many.

Think the same thing among yourselves, which is also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not usurpation to be equal with God, but he humbled himself, having taken the form of a servant, being in the likeness of men; and having been found in fashion like a man;read more.
he humbled himself, being obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Therefore God has indeed exalted him, and given him a name above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow, of things in heaven and things upon the earth and things beneath the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, unto the glory of God the Father.

But now having been made free from sin, and having become servants unto God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.

No one is able to serve two masters: for he will hate the one, and love the other; or cleave to the one, and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon.

No servant is able to serve two masters: for he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will cleave to the one, and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, having been separated unto the gospel of God,

Whatsoever you may do, work from your soul, as for the Lord, and not for men; knowing that you will receive the recompense of the inheritance from the Lord. Serve the Lord Christ;

James, the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are in the Dispersion, greeting.

as free, and not as having the freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God.

Simon Peter, the servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those receiving like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Then therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to depravity, to live according to depravity. For if you live according to depravity, you are about to die: but if through the Spirit you kill the practices of the body, you shall live. For so many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.read more.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but you received the Spirit of adoption, in which we cry; Father, Father. The Spirit Himself witnesses along with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, indeed heirs; truly heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if we suffer together, in order that we may also be glorified together.

No longer do I call you servants; because the servant knows not what his lord is doing: but I have called you friends; because all things which I heard with my Father, I made known unto you.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith wrought with his works, and by works the faith was made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled, saying, And Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.

Then Jesus said to the Jews, who believed on Him, If you may abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They responded to Him, we are the seed of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one: How do You say, that you shall be free?read more.
Jesus responded to them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, That every one doing sin is the slave of sin. But the slave abides not in the house forever; the Son abides forever. If therefore the Son may make you free, you shall be free indeed.

What then? can we commit sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? it could not be so. Do you not know, that to whom you present yourselves servants unto obedience, ye are servants to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness? But thanks be unto God, that whereas ye were servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the type of teaching into which ye were delivered:read more.
but having been made free from sin, ye became servants unto righteousness. I speak after the manner of a man on account of the weakness of your carnality. For as ye presented your members as servants unto impurity and lawlessness pursuant to lawlessness, so now present your members servants unto righteousness pursuant to sanctification. For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit then had you at that time in those things in which you are now ashamed? for the end of these things is death. But now having been made free from sin, and having become servants unto God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,

For being free from all, I rendered myself servant to all, that I may gain the more.

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

For you were called unto liberty, brethren; only use not the liberty unto an occasion to the flesh, but through divine love serve one another.

Then who is the faithful and wise servant, whom the lord placed over his household to give them their food in season? Happy is that servant whom, his lord having come, will find so doing. Truly I say unto you, that he will appoint him over all his possessions.read more.
But if the wicked servant may say in his heart, My lord delayeth; and may begin to smite his fellow-servants, and eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day in which he does not expect, and an hour in which he does not know, and he will cut him off, and will appoint his part with hypocrites: and there shall be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.

The Lord said, Who then is the faithful, wise steward, whom the lord will establish over his house-hold, to give them their food in season? Happy is that servant, whom his lord having come shall thus find watching. Truly I say unto you, that he will establish him over all his possessions.read more.
But if that servant may say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming, and may begin to smite the servants and handmaidens, and to eat and drink, and be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day in which he does not expect, and in an hour in which he does not know, and will cut him off, and will appoint his part with the unbelievers.

For as a man going away, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods, to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each one according to his own ability; and departed. The one having received the five talents going immediately, operated with the same, and made other five talents.read more.
Likewise the one having received two gained two others. And he having received one, having gone away, digged up the earth, and buried the money belonging to his lord. And after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes a reckoning with them. And the one having received the five talents coming to him brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou didst deliver unto me five talents: behold, I have gained other five talents.

Then He said, A certain nobleman went to a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and return. And calling his ten servants, he gave to them ten pounds, and said to them, Operate till I come. But his citizens continued to hate him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this man to rule over us.read more.
And it came to pass, when he returned, having received the kingdom, and he said, that those servants should be called, to whom he had given the money, in order that he might know what each one had gained by their merchandise. And the first came, saying, Lord, thy pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in the least, have thou authority over ten cities.

But which one of you, having a servant plowing or serving a shepherd, who will say to him, having come in from the field, Coming hither sit down immediately? But will he not say to him, Prepare what I may sup, and girding thyself, minister unto me, until I may eat and drink; and after these things you eat and drink? Whether does he thank the servant because he did the things which were commanded?read more.
Likewise also, when you may do those things which are commanded you, say that, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

For the earnest expectation of the creature awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature has been subordinated to mortality, not willingly, but through Him who subordinated it; therefore indeed pursuant to hope, the creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.read more.
For we know that all creation groans together and travails together until now;