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Servanthood

October 05, 2003

Jesus was a servant

Philippians 2:6-7

Who [Jesus], being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Jesus served his heavenly father

Matthew 4:10

Then saith Jesus unto him, Go away from here, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus came to serve

Matthew 20:28

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Whom you obey you serve

Romans 6:16

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

You cannot serve two masters

Matthew 6:24

Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.”

sin is a master

John 8:34

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth [practices] sin is the servant of sin.

Sin should not be our master

Romans 6:6

Knowing this [don’t be ignorant of this], that our old man is crucified with him [dead to self], that the body of sin might be destroyed [unemployed or out of service], that henceforth [from this time onward] we should not serve sin.

Obeying doctrine

Romans 6:17

But God be thanked, that ye were [in the past] the servants of sin, butye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, which was delivered you [by teaching].

the heart of a bond servant

Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid [or bond servant] of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The Lord’s servant loves the pure word

Psalm 119:140

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Servants of righteousness

Romans 6:18

Being then made free from sin [by obedience to doctrine], ye became the servants of righteousness.

Changing masters by yielding

Romans 6:19

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have [in the past] yielded your members servants to uncleanness [sin] and to iniquity [lawlessness] unto iniquity [lawlessness]; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness [by obedience to doctrine] unto [resulting in] holiness [holy living].

free from sin to be Servants to god

Romans 6:20-23

For when ye were [in the past] the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness [no obedience to doctrine]. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things [serving sin] whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death [no life in the coming millennial kingdom of God]. 22 But now being made free from sin [by obedience to doctrine], and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end ~~everlasting~~ age lasting life [life in the coming millennial kingdom of God]. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is ~~eternal~~ age lasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Don’t be servants of men

1 Corinthians 7:23

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

How not to be a servant of Christ

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

serving christ with right motives

Ephesians 6:6-8

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God [obedience to revealed commandments] from the heart [from the inside which takes faith]; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing [a motive for serving] that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Servants are the greatest

Matthew 23:11

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Old Testament servants
 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - Deu 9:27 ("Thy servants") 


Moses - 1 Kin 8:53 ("Thy servant") 


Joshua - Josh 24:29 ("Servant of the Lord") 


Caleb - Num 14:24 ("My servant")


Job - Job 1:8 ("My servant")


Isaiah - Isa 20:3 ("My servant")


The prophets - Jer 7:25 ("My servants")

New Testament writers as "servants"

James - James 1:1

Paul - Romans 1:1; Ph 1:1

Peter - 2 Peter 1:1

Jude - Jude 1

John - Revelation 1:1

By love serve one another

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh [to live in sin or disobedience], but by love serve one another.

serving others is the way to greatness

Luke 22:24-27

Now there was also a dispute among them [the disciples], as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He [Jesus Christ] said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26 "But not so among you [disciples]; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 "For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Jesus demonstrates servanthood

John 13:1-5

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come [to suffer and die on the cross] that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself[as a slave or common servant]. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Wash one another’s feet

John 13:12-17

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet [serve each other in love]. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Faithful servants elevated to rulers

Matthew 25:21

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord [this is a life of ruling and reign with Jesus Christ in His coming kingdom for 1,000 years].