36 Bible Verses about Slavery, Spiritual

They replied to him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus replied to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. And the slave does not remain in the household {forever}; the son remains {forever}.read more.
So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that [you] obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God [as] instruments of righteousness. For sin will not be master over you, because you are not under law, but under grace.read more.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves [as] slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, [leading] to death, or obedience, [leading] to righteousness? But thanks [be] to God that you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted, and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

What then shall we say? [Is] the law sin? May it never be! But I would not have known sin except through the law, for I would not have known covetousness if the law had not said, "Do not covet." But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all [kinds of] covetousness. For apart from the law, sin [is] dead. And I was alive once, apart from the law, but [when] the commandment came, sin sprang to liferead more.
and I died, and this commandment which [was] to [lead to] life was found with respect to me to [lead to] death. For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed [me]. So then, the law [is] holy, and the commandment [is] holy and righteous and good. Therefore, [did that which is] good become death to me? May it never be! Rather [it was] sin, in order that it might be recognized [as] sin, producing death through [what is] good for me, in order that sin might become sinful to an extraordinary degree through the commandment. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, {sold into slavery to sin}. For what I am doing I do not understand, because what I want [to do], this I do not practice, but what I hate, this I do. But if what I do not want [to do], this I do, I agree with the law that [it is] good. But now I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me. For I know that good does not live in me, that is, in my flesh. For the willing is present in me, but the doing [of] the good [is] not. For the good that I want [to do], I do not do, but the evil that I do not want [to do], this I do. But if what I do not want [to do], this I am doing, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me. Consequently, I find the principle with me, the one who wants to do good, that evil is present with me. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in my inner person, but I observe another law in my members, at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that exists in my members. Wretched man [that] I [am]! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks [be] to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself with my mind am enslaved to the law of God, but with my flesh [I am enslaved] to the law of sin.

For we also were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, enslaved to various desires and pleasures, spending our lives in wickedness and envy, despicable, hating one another.

promising them freedom [although they] themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also enslaved.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Now I say, for as long a time [as] the heir is a child, [he is] no different from a slave, [although he] is master of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the time set by [his] father. So also we, when we were children, we were enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world.read more.
But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that he might redeem those under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption. And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba! (Father!)," so that you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery [leading] to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these [same things], in order that through death he could destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and could set free these who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives.

Now before the feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, [and] having loved [his] own in the world, loved them to the end. And [as] a dinner was taking place, [when] the devil had already put into the heart of Judas [son] of Simon Iscariot that he should betray him, [because he] knew that the Father had given him all [things] into [his] hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going away to God,read more.
he got up from the dinner and took off [his] outer clothing, and taking a towel, tied [it] around himself. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe [them] dry with the towel {which he had tied around himself}. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these [things]." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet {forever}!" Jesus replied to him, "Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed {only needs} to wash [his] feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all [of you]." (For he knew the one who would betray him; because of this he said, "Not all [of you] are clean.") So when he had washed their feet and taken his outer clothing and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you speak correctly, for I am. If then I--[your] Lord and Teacher--wash your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that just as I have done for you, you also do. Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these [things], you are blessed if you do them.

But Jesus called them to himself [and] said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions exercise authority over them. It will not be like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be most prominent among you must be your slave--read more.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life [as] a ransom for many."

And Jesus called them to himself [and] said to them, "You know that those who are considered to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their [people] in high positions exercise authority over them. But it is not like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be most prominent among you must be the slave of all.read more.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life [as] a ransom for many."

Think this in yourselves which [was] also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself [by] taking the form of a slave, [by] becoming in the likeness of people. And being found in appearance like a man,read more.
he humbled himself [by] becoming obedient to the point of death, that is, death on a cross. Therefore also God exalted him and graciously granted him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [those] in heaven and of [those] on earth and of [those] under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

But now, having been set free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit [leading] to sanctification, and its end [is] eternal life.

"No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.

No domestic slave is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money."

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called [to be] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Whatever you do, accomplish [it] from the soul, as to the Lord, and not to people, [because you] know that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.

James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Greetings!

[Live] as free [persons], and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.

Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith equal in value to ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

So then, brothers, we are obligated not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.read more.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery [leading] to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, also heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together [with him] so that we may also be glorified together [with him].

No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything that I have heard from my Father I have revealed to you.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works [when he] offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was working together with his works, and by the works the faith was perfected. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They replied to him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, 'You will become free'?"read more.
Jesus replied to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. And the slave does not remain in the household {forever}; the son remains {forever}. So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free.

Tell me, [you] who are wanting to be under the law, do you not understand the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the female slave and one by the free woman. But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise,read more.
which [things] are spoken allegorically, for these [women] are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing [children] for slavery, who is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to [children]; burst out and shout, [you] who do not have birth pains, because many [are] the children of the desolate [woman], even more than [those of] the one who has a husband." But you, brothers, are children of the promise, just as Isaac. But just as at that time the [child] born according to human descent persecuted the [child born] according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son" of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves [as] slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, [leading] to death, or obedience, [leading] to righteousness? But thanks [be] to God that you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted,read more.
and having been set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you presented your members [as] slaves to immorality and lawlessness, [leading] to lawlessness, so now present your members [as] slaves to righteousness, [leading] to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with respect to righteousness. Therefore what sort of fruit did you have then, about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those [things] [is] death. But now, having been set free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit [leading] to sanctification, and its end [is] eternal life. For the compensation due sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For [although I] am free from all [people], I have enslaved myself to all, in order that I may gain more.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus [as] Lord, and ourselves [as] your slaves for the sake of Jesus.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom [become] an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

"Who then is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household slaves to give them their food at the right time? Blessed [is] that slave whom his master will find so doing [when he] comes back. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.read more.
But if that evil slave should say {to himself}, 'My master is staying away for a long time,' and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign his place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful wise manager whom the master will put in charge over his servants to give [them] [their] food allowance at the right time? Blessed [is] that slave whom his master will find so doing [when he] comes back. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.read more.
But if that slave should say {to himself}, 'My master is taking a long time to return,' and he begins to beat the male slaves and the female slaves and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign his place with the unbelievers.

For [it is] like a man going on a journey. He summoned his own slaves and handed over his property to them. And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went on a journey immediately. The one who had received the five talents went out [and] traded with them and gained five more.read more.
In the same way the one [who had] the two gained two more. But the one who had received the one went away [and] dug up the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up [and] brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!'

Therefore he said, "A certain nobleman traveled to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And summoning ten of his own slaves, he gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Do business {until I come back}.' But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to be king over us!'read more.
And it happened that when he returned [after] receiving the kingdom, he ordered these slaves to whom he had given the money to be summoned to him, so that he could know what they had gained by trading. So the first arrived, saying, 'Sir, your mina has made ten minas more!' And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, {have authority} over ten cities.'

"And which of you who has a slave plowing or shepherding [sheep] who comes in from the field will say to him, 'Come here at once [and] recline at the table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something that I may eat, and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and after these [things] you will eat and drink.' He will not {be grateful} to the slave because he did what was ordered, [will he]?read more.
Thus you also, when you have done all the {things you were ordered to do}, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done what we were obligated to do.'"

For the eagerly expecting creation awaits eagerly the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation has been subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected [it], in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its servility to decay, into the glorious freedom of the children of God.read more.
For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers agony together until now.