36 Bible Verses about Slavery, Spiritual

They answered him, We are Abrahams offspring, and have never been in bondage to any one; how sayest, thou, Ye will be made free? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly do I say to you, Every one that committeth sin is a bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever; the son abideth for ever.read more.
If therefore the Son make you free, ye will be free indeed.

Let not then sin reign in your mortal body, bringing you into subjection to its lusts, nor yield up your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but yield up yourselves to God, as being alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not hold dominion over you; for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.read more.
What then? Are we to sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid! Know ye not, that whomever ye choose to obey as a master, his bondmen ye are, whether of sin whose fruit is death, or of obedience whose fruit is righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though ye were the bondmen of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching which was delivered to you; and being made free from sin, ye became the bondmen of righteousness.

What then shall we say? Is the Law sin? God forbid! But I should not have known sin, except by the Law; for I should not have known sinful desire, unless the Law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." But sin, seizing the opportunity, wrought in me by means of the commandment all manner of sinful desire; for without the Law sin is dead. And I, apart from the Law, was once alive; but when the commandment came, sin came to life again, and I died;read more.
and the very commandment whose design was life, I found to issue in death. For sin, seizing the opportunity, deceived me through the commandment, and through it slew me. So that the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and right, and good. Did then that which is good become death to me? Far be it! but sin; that it might become manifest as sin, causing death to me by means of that which is good; that sin by means of the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, a slave sold to sin. For I know not what I do. For I do not what I would, but I do what I hate. But if I do what I would not, I assent to the Law that it is good. Now, however, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is, in my flesh, any good thing; for to desire is present with me, but not to perform that which is good. For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. But if I do what I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then that there is a law to me, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God, as to the inward man; but I perceive 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. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? Thanks be to God, [who hath delivered me] through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, I, the same person, with the mind serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, going astray, slaves to divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.

Stand firm in the liberty with which Christ made us free, and be not again bound fast to the yoke of bondage.

Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth in no respect from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; but is under guardians and stewards, until the time appointed by the father. So also we, when we were children, 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 of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law, that we might be adopted as sons. And to show that ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father! So then thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

For ye did not receive the spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear; but ye received the spirit of adopted children, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner shared in the same, that through death he might bring to nought him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil, and might deliver those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, loved them unto the end. And supper being served,the Devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him, he, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God,read more.
riseth from the supper, and layeth aside his garments, and took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter; who saith to him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou wilt know hereafter. Peter saith to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that hath bathed needeth not to wash himself, but is wholly clean; and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who was about to betray him; for this reason he said, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and placed himself again at the table, he said to them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me the Teacher, and the Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly do I say to you, A servant is not greater than his lord, nor one who is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

But Jesus called them to him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great men exercise a strict authority over them. Not so shall it be among you; but whoever desireth to become great among you, will be your minister; and whoever desireth to be first among you, will be your servant;read more.
even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

And Jesus, calling them to him, saith to them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the nations lord it over them, and their great men exercise a strict authority over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever desireth to become great among you, will be your minister; and whoever of you desireth to become first, will be servant of all;read more.
for even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Yea, let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not regard it as a thing to be grasped at to be on an equality with God, but made himself of no consideration, taking the form of a servant, and becoming like men;read more.
and in what appertained to him appearing as a man, he humbled himself, and was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also highly exalted him, and gave him a name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father.

But now having been delivered from the slavery of sin, and having become the bondservants of God, ye have holiness as the fruit, and everlasting life as the end.

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

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

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, set apart to preach the gospel of God,

Whatever ye do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that from the Lord ye will receive the recompense of the inheritance; serve Christ as your Lord.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as servants of God.

Symeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God, and the Saviour Jesus Christ:

So then, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if ye live according to the flesh, ye are sure to die; but if by the Spirit ye make an end of the deeds of the body, ye will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God.read more.
For ye did not receive the spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear; but ye received the spirit of adopted children, whereby we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and fellowheirs with Christ; if indeed we are suffering with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things which I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

Was not Abraham our father accepted as righteous through works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.

Jesus therefore said to those Jews who believed in him, If ye continue in my word, ye are truly my disciples; and ye will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. They answered him, We are Abrahams offspring, and have never been in bondage to any one; how sayest, thou, Ye will be made free?read more.
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly do I say to you, Every one that committeth sin is a bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever; the son abideth for ever. If therefore the Son make you free, ye will be free indeed.

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the Law, do ye not hear the Law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; the one by the bondwoman, the other by the freewoman. But the one by the bondwoman was born after the flesh; while the one by the freewoman was through the promise.read more.
Which things are written allegorically; for these women are two covenants; the one from Mount Sinai, who beareth children into bondage, which is Hagar; for the word Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; and she corresponds to the Jerusalem now existing, for she is in bondage with her children; but the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate one, rather than of her who hath the husband." But ye, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of a promise. But as at that time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born through the Spirit, so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the freewoman.

What then? Are we to sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid! Know ye not, that whomever ye choose to obey as a master, his bondmen ye are, whether of sin whose fruit is death, or of obedience whose fruit is righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though ye were the bondmen of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching which was delivered to you;read more.
and being made free from sin, ye became the bondmen of righteousness. I speak in a way common among men on account of the weakness of your flesh. For as ye once yielded your members as slaves to impurity and to iniquity, in order to commit iniquity, so now yield your members as bondmen to righteousness in order to become holy. For when ye were the slaves of sin, ye were not the bondmen of righteousness. What fruit then had ye at that time from those things of which ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been delivered from the slavery of sin, and having become the bondservants of God, ye have holiness as the fruit, and everlasting life as the end. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is everlasting life, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

For being free from all men, yet I made myself a servant to all, that I might gain the more;

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake.

For ye, brethren, were called to liberty; only use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by your love serve one another.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord placed over his household, to give them their food in due season? Happy is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Truly do I say to you, that he will place him in charge of all his substance.read more.
But if the bad servant say in his heart, My lord is tarrying long; and begin to beat his fellowservants, and eat and drink with the drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for it, and at an hour when he is not aware; and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful, the wise steward, whom his lord will place over his household, to give the portion of food in due season? Happy is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. I say to you in truth, that he will place him in charge of all his substance.read more.
But if that servant say in his heart, My lord is long in coming; and begin to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and be drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.

For it will be as when a man going abroad called his own servants, and intrusted to them his property; and to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability, and went abroad. He that had received the five talents went immediately and traded with the same, and gained five talents more.read more.
In like manner, he that had received the two gained two more. But he that had received the one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lords money. And after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And he that had received the five talents came and brought five talents more, saying, Lord, thou intrustedst to me five talents; see, I have gained five talents more.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, Trade with these, till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.read more.
And it came to pass, when he had returned, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what each had gained by trading. And the first came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well done, good servant! because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.

And which of you having a servant plowing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he hath come in from the field, Come immediately and place thyself at table? Will he not rather say to him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself and serve me till I have eaten and drunken, and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he owe any thanks to that servant, because he did what was commanded?read more.
So also do ye, when ye have done all that hath been commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were bound to do.

For the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was brought into subjection to vanity not of its own will, but by reason of him who put it into subjection, in hope that even the creation itself will be set free from the bondage of corruption and brought into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.read more.
For we know that the whole creation is together groaning and suffering the pains of labor, up to this time;