# Why do you suppose Jesus never condemned slavery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172 "2010-02-23T21:21:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/121 "2010-02-25T21:09:05Z")
Missed the edit window. My first post also makes the usual parochial mistake of concentrating on US slavery. Of course, slavery in South America, Africa and south Asia was also eradicated by committed Christians in pursuit of Christian goals. I concede that on a global scale we also have to thank the Chinese Communist Party for their role in eradicating slavery in China. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/122 "2010-02-25T21:44:05Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Bonus points for invoking Basement Cat šŸ™‚ > > I donā€™t think we are more cruel, though I will grant that our weapons are more effective. Many of our weapons are phyciological in nature, which serve to dehumanize, which tears down the soul in a way that appears to be ā€˜helpingā€™. > [@](#): > > Our laws are more ā€œnuancedā€, in that not every minor infraction carries a death sentence. We even allow the accused the chance to defend themselves in a legal and open trial. Have you ever talked to officials in such cases, many things go on that really strip down those rights. Yes itā€™s not the death sentence, but look at the percent of our population that is incarcerated, especially blacks. > [@](#): > > In modern times, mass extermination (genocide) is fought against. Slavery is outlawed. Slavery goes on today at a spiritual level. > [@](#): > > Wars are not fought at ā€œthe highest destructive level possibleā€ (we donā€™t automatically go for the hydrogen bombs). We even have conventions regarding the conduct of war. As there was back then also, going back to the warriorā€™s code. Yes the didnā€™t need anti-nuke treaties back then, and nukes were used in war. > [@](#): > > We live in a different world. Back then might made right, in a very real sense. the winner took all, the loser was dead. This is still very much the case today, and IMHO, absolutely nothing has changed, including our attitude that we are somehow ā€˜betterā€™ then our ancestors. > [@](#): > > We have come a long way. IMHO in the opposite direction. [/quote] Added on edit: Why was there ā€œan eye for an eyeā€? It was not to sanction revenge. It was an early attempt to stop it. That was a time when any slight, real or imagined, large or small, got someone killed. ā€œEye for an eyeā€ tried to stop that. [/QUOTE] The eye for a eye was imposed on a population who didnā€™t know God, and was given a code instead of personally knowing Him. The code fit their hearts, they were given what they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Oveja\_Slayer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/47e85d/32.png) [@Oveja\_Slayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oveja_Slayer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/123 "2010-02-25T22:56:37Z")
> [@Frank\_apisa](#): > > Ovejaā€¦the citations were in response to your assertion that Jesus had said and done things that made it very obvious to others that he opposed slavery. > > I mentioned that it was evident from what Paul wrote that he did not get such a message. > > You asked me for evidence of that from scriptureā€¦and I cited several. > > I gave you exactly what you asked forā€¦and now you are faulting me for doing so. > > Cā€™mon! > > That would be like arguing that since there is no record of Jesus ever performing an abortionā€¦he obviously disapproved of abortion. Not a very decent argument! > > Most people back then did not own slavesā€¦mostly it was the rich who did. That does not mean that the people who did not own slaves disapproved of the practiceā€¦it most likely means they simply did not have the means to afford them. > > And you still have not dealt with the FACT that the god Jesus worshipped told him plainly in easy to understand words that the buying, selling, and ownership of slaves was perfectly okay and moral. > ā€œSlaves, male and female, you may indeed possess, provided you BUY them from among the neighboring nations. You may also BUY them from among the aliens who reside with you and from their children who are born and reared in your land. Such slaves YOU MAY OWN AS CHATTELS, and leave to your sons as their hereditary property, MAKING THEM PERPETUAL SLAVES. But you shall not lord it harshly over any of the Israelites, your kinsmen.ā€ Leviticus 25:44ff > > That was not my intention at allā€“and I have never said or implied that. But I must say that by not opposing slavery, he did inadvertently lend support it in ways that Southern slave owners often used in justification of the practice. > > However, I have way too much admiration for Jesus to ever deal with that at length. And I can easily understand why Jesus never condemned slaveryā€¦because he was assured by the god he worshipped that nothing was wrong with the practice. > > That was my purpose, Ovejaā€¦to make that point, because all this stuff goes to my ultimate question: Why do the theists in this discussion pick this god to be their GOD? > > Not sure what you are saying hereā€¦but if I have tried any ā€œtricksā€ you want to cite, cite ā€˜em and I will defend what I said and why I said it. My apologies. Wasnā€™t trying to fault you. I misunderstood the point you were trying to make. Perhaps I assumed the point you were making - Iā€™m coming from another board where Iā€™m used to a lot of people just bashing Jesus needlessly. I did not fully understand the point you were trying to make, but now I do. That is an interesting ideaā€¦and may hold some water. I wonder though if Jesus struggled with that issue, wondering what the ā€œright answerā€ wasā€¦ Part of me thinks about Jesus regularly breaking Jewish law and in the process he makes larger points about flaws of the law. Also, like you said, only the rich owned slaves, and Jesus hung out with the dreggs of society. Perhaps it was wiser to not preach that, as if Jesus was a proponent of non-violence and love, he would not want to have caused a riot. Or again, as stated, the Jewish idea of ā€œtransmigration of souls.ā€ Why do theists pick that god? Youā€™ve got meā€¦I abandoned that god a long time ago. People like to put God in a box so they have someone who likes and hates, approves and disapproves of all the same things they do. Frankly I donā€™t think any of us have any idea what God wants (or if God really wants anything) and weā€™re here to be the best at whatever we do and to leave the world a better place than we found it. Perhaps Jesusā€™ point was that, should you find yourself in slavery, be the best slave you can be instead of being violent. Also, slaves are not always mistreated historically - many times they are treated kindly. They are more like live in servants. Instead of being paid, they do not have to worry about housing, food, clothing, etc. That is a type of payment in itself, though I do have a problem with the objectification, sale, and trade of human beings. Iā€™m meandering now, Iā€™m just not convinced Jesus had no problems with slavery - it was just something he did not speak to one way or the other. Your point is well taken. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_apisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/47e85d/32.png) [@Frank\_apisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_apisa)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/124 "2010-02-26T16:52:11Z")
Thank you for that message, Ovija. It was nice of you to reply the way you did. I think we are on the same page on most of thisā€¦me from the perspective of an agnostic who has a lot of respect for the teachings of Jesusā€¦and you from what appears to be a theistic (very rational theistic) position. In any case, I hope Jesus saw slavery to be the abomination it was. I ackknowledge that some slaves in places like Egypt and Rome achieved status that few of us can imagine. A favored slave of Cesar, for instance, was not someone even a Senator of Rome would want to mess with; and even the most wealthy and secure Egyptian would think twice before giving any crap to a favored slave of Pharaoh. Those kinds of slaves were highly rewarded and highly prized individualsā€¦and their slave status was more to insure that they would not jump ship for a more lucrative inducement. But the vast majority of slaves were, no matter how well treated, in a completely horrific situation. They could be bought, sold, separated from loved ones at willā€¦and used as chattels or as sex slaves. No matter how well slaves were treatedā€¦there is never justification for slavery. My post here merely was to point out that Jesus never spoke out against itā€¦most likely because he was assured by the god he worshipped that it was not an immoral activity. And of course, I wanted to point that out so that I could ask the question: Why choose this god to be your GOD? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/125 "2010-02-28T21:01:47Z")
> [@Frank\_apisa](#): > > My post here merely was to point out that Jesus never spoke out against it My post here was merely to point out that he told people to divest themselves of their possessions, and explained that youā€™re not allowed to hit anyone even if theyā€™re in the middle of hitting you. I donā€™t see how thatā€™s compatible with punching folks out in self-defense, or murdering 'em in cold blood, or kidnapping 'em for a sizable ransom, or whatever; I also donā€™t see how itā€™s compatible with owning a slave: youā€™re not allowed to beat him, and youā€™re not allowed to resist him if he starts beating you. So how are you going to keep him as a possession, if you were allowed to keep possessions, which youā€™re not? ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_apisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/47e85d/32.png) [@Frank\_apisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_apisa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/126 "2010-02-28T21:16:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > My post here was merely to point out that he told people to divest themselves of their possessions, and explained that youā€™re not allowed to hit anyone even if theyā€™re in the middle of hitting you. I donā€™t see how thatā€™s compatible with punching folks out in self-defense, or murdering 'em in cold blood, or kidnapping 'em for a sizable ransom, or whatever; I also donā€™t see how itā€™s compatible with owning a slave: youā€™re not allowed to beat him, and youā€™re not allowed to resist him if he starts beating you. So how are you going to keep him as a possession, if you were allowed to keep possessions, which youā€™re not? If Jesus wanted to condemn slaveryā€¦he could have said, ā€œThere is something wrong with owning slaves.ā€ He didnā€™t. Hence, my question: Why do you suppose Jesus never condemned slavery? Iā€™ve also offered an explanation: The god he worshipped said there is nothing wrong with slavery. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_apisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/47e85d/32.png) [@Frank\_apisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_apisa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/127 "2010-02-28T21:18:17Z")
I doubt if I will be able to reply to any responses for the next week. Gotta go into the hospital for a video EEG tomorrowā€¦something that will probably use up a full week. Gonna hate the food! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/128 "2010-02-28T22:01:46Z")
> [@Frank\_apisa](#): > > If Jesus wanted to condemn slaveryā€¦he could have said, ā€œThere is something wrong with owning slaves.ā€ > > He didnā€™t. He thought there was something wrong with owning _ **stuff.** _ He said, right before talking about passing a camel through the eye of a needle, that the whole point was to sell all of your possessions and give all the money to charity. He didnā€™t specifically condemn owning a horse-drawn chariot. He didnā€™t specifically condemn owning golden bracelets. He likewise didnā€™t specifically condemn kicking people in the groin or punching them in the throat. He didnā€™t condemn any of that stuff because he issued blanket condemnations. He condemned owning chariots and bracelets when he condemned owning worldly possessions. He condemned groin kicks and throat punches when he condemned the use of force even in self-defense. He condemned slavery when he condemned owning worldly possessions and using force even in self-defense. He doesnā€™t need to specify. Look, imagine Jesus shows up tomorrow and says that you shouldnā€™t compete in the Olympics. Does he need to add that you shouldnā€™t compete in the Olympics as a pole vaulter? Does he then need to add that you shouldnā€™t compete in the Olympics as a speed skater? Does he _ **then** _ need to address the tricky question of whether you should compete in the Olympics as an epee fencer? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/129 "2010-03-01T00:14:36Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > He thought there was something wrong with owning _ **stuff.** _ He said, right before talking about passing a camel through the eye of a needle, that the whole point was to sell all of your possessions and give all the money to charity. He didnā€™t specifically condemn owning a horse-drawn chariot. He didnā€™t specifically condemn owning golden bracelets. He likewise didnā€™t specifically condemn kicking people in the groin or punching them in the throat. Yeah but dude, giving up worldly possessions is just WACKY. Thatā€™s crazy talk. Jesus was obviously just joking. I mean, just look at all those upstanding Christians in cars, with potted plants, refrigerators, computers, and stuff. You canā€™t tell me that _everyoneā€™s_ got it all wrong! And itā€™s not like there are whole continents just full of impoverished and needy people or anything. Where is all that charity supposed to go!? ---
**Author:** ![geezermom67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@geezermom67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geezermom67)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/130 "2010-03-01T01:43:37Z")
It seems to me that Jesusā€™ purpose wasnā€™t to fix the problems in the world, but instead help people prepare for the next world. If one accepts the existence of the afterlife as Jesus taught, then life here is pretty insignificant in comparison with what is to come. So, he seemed to use his teaching to help people find their way into the kingdom of heaven instead of using it to fix up the kingdom of earth. After all, if a slave followed Jesusā€™ teaching and ended up gaining heaven, and a master didnā€™t and ā€˜went the other wayā€™, then who comes out better off? I wonder if that might have been the source of some of the animosity against Jesus, as people looking for a savior were expecting someone to come in and fix everything wrong with the planet, and instead, he talked about how people should live to store up treasure in heaven. People seem to get pretty bent out of shape when someone they perceive as powerful doesnā€™t live up to their expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/131 "2010-03-03T04:08:38Z")
Iā€™m here to tell you that you are not free. You are all slaves. Why ? Because if you are a true Christian ā€“ a follower of Christ, a disciple of Jesus, and a servant of the Lord ā€“ then you are a slave of God. Thatā€™s a good thing. If you are not a Christian or a Christian in name only (which most of us are at some point in our life), then you are someone elseā€™s slave. You are not free. Everyone Has a Master ā€œNo one can serve two masters,ā€ the scripture teaches. ā€œHe will hate the one and love the other.ā€ Implicit in this statement is that everyone has a master. If you think you have no master, that nobody tells you w7hat to do, then, who really is your master? You! Many people think theyā€™re free because, as they say, ā€œIā€™m my own boss.ā€ You Cannot Have Two Masters Some of us think we can divide our loyalties in this life. After all, thatā€™s what secular society is all about. At any moment you serve the master of choice. When in church or with church people, I serve God. When Iā€™m studying, I serve the school. When Iā€™m working, I serve my company or my superior and so on. Jesus says this is impossible. ā€œNo one can serve two masters.ā€ Why? Because, the nature of humanity is to love one thing more than another. This is reflected in several ways such as the ideal of monogamy. Polygamous marriages donā€™t work because one spouse will be loved more than the others. Every time we make a choice, about anything, we are expressing our devotion to one thing over another. [[SHORTENED QUOTE]] Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/132 "2010-03-03T11:25:08Z")
**Perciful** , please donā€™t copy and paste entire columns into a post. Express your point in your own words, and if you have to quote someone, use a relatively short quote and link to the rest. [Here are the SDMB guidelines on quotes.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384736) The full text of what **Perciful** originally posted can be found here: [http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AndrewsSlave.php](http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AndrewsSlave.php). ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/133 "2010-03-03T12:52:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > **Perciful** , please donā€™t copy and paste entire columns into a post. Express your point in your own words, and if you have to quote someone, use a relatively short quote and link to the rest. [Here are the SDMB guidelines on quotes.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384736) > > The full text of what **Perciful** originally posted can be found here: [http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AndrewsSlave.php](http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AndrewsSlave.php). Sorry, I will read the guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/134 "2010-03-03T13:33:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sandwich] The commercial imperative outweighed Christian imperatives to evangelise the heathen rather than enslave him, and there were plantations on the newly discovered / colonised Atlantic islands (Madiera, Canaries, Cape Verde Islands) which could consume cheap African slaves on an industrial scale. . [/QUOTE] Um, no. There was no contradiction between evangelising the heathen and enslaving them. Evangelising them was in fact one of the motives for doing so. And it worked, too; they were carried off, separated from their original societies, and force fed Christianity until they or their children became Christians. From a Christian evangelization perspective, slavery was immensely successful. Part of the justification for enslaving ā€œheathensā€ was saving their souls; it let the Christians make a profit off of slavery while telling themselves their victims should be grateful for being enslaved. It let them use the ā€œGolden Ruleā€ for justifying slavery, to tell themselves ā€œif I were a black heathen Iā€™d be glad to be taken away from those vile heathens and taught the true faith.ā€ It helped let them dismiss the resistance of the slaves to being enslaved by labeling it ingratitude. > [@Perciful](#): > > Iā€™m here to tell you that you are not free. You are all slaves. Why ? Because if you are a true Christian ā€“ a follower of Christ, a disciple of Jesus, and a servant of the Lord ā€“ then you are a slave of God. Thatā€™s a good thing. > > If you are not a Christian or a Christian in name only (which most of us are at some point in our life), then you are someone elseā€™s slave. You are not free. > > Everyone Has a Master Nonsense. Most people donā€™t have a master. And no; your boss isnā€™t your ā€œmasterā€, he or she is your boss. And being a slave of God or anyone else is NOT a good thing. > [@Perciful](#): > > ā€œNo one can serve two masters,ā€ the scripture teaches. ā€œHe will hate the one and love the other.ā€ Implicit in this statement is that everyone has a master. Wrong again. Even it it was true, in no way does it imply that everyone has a master. > [@Perciful](#): > > If you think you have no master, that nobody tells you w7hat to do, then, who really is your master? You! Many people think theyā€™re free because, as they say, ā€œIā€™m my own boss.ā€ Ah, time for some word games apparently. Trying to equate self determination with a master-slave relationship is ridiculous; they are opposites. And again, ā€œbossā€ and ā€œmasterā€ arenā€™t the same thing, especially in the context of slavery; not many people who say ā€œIā€™m my own bossā€ beat themselves for disobeying themselves, after all. The writer is trying to equate a huge number of types of relationships that have little to no resemblance to slavery with slavery, just so he can say ā€œwe are slaves of God, and thatā€™s goodā€. > [@Perciful](#): > > Some of us think we can divide our loyalties in this life. And we can, and most people do. Thereā€™s a name for someone without divided loyalties; that name is ā€œfanaticā€. > [@Perciful](#): > > Polygamous marriages donā€™t work because one spouse will be loved more than the others. Except of course they DO work - or can. There have been more cultures that practice polygamy than not. Nor for that matter does marriage require that love be equal between spouses; how could you even tell? A love-o-meter? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/135 "2010-03-03T13:45:12Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > So why not send Jesus 2.0 a generation or two later to correct the mistakes? according to some religions , the Bahaiā€™ in particular, thatā€™s pretty much what happened. Several religions teach that God continues to send messengers/prophets/teachers, to different generations to continue the call. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/136 "2010-03-03T13:58:33Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I sure might. Iā€™d probably call it Matthew 6:25. > > 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? > 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? > 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? > 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: > 29 and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. > 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? > 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? > 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. > 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. > 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. > > And if that werenā€™t enough, Iā€™d possibly rehash it as Luke 12:22. I think verse 33 is the key here. Jesus message was consistently, seek the kingdom first and donā€™t let the cares of the world distract you or justify bad choices. Mankind tends to do just that. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/137 "2010-03-03T14:22:38Z")
Iā€™m glad I finally got around to this thread. Other people have touched on my thoughts but here we go Basically I think Jesus didnā€™t specifically condemn slavery as well as other issues because he saw it as a symptom rather than the disease itself which is what he was trying to address. Iā€™ve never been convinced Jesus himself thought he was returning to earth soon so I dismissed that idea right away. Admittedly, Iā€™ve never done any study on this. I just never saw the evidence while reading the gospels. To elaborate; I think Jesus saw that societies ills , whatever they be, could only truly be solved by a personal and individual transformation from within, which is what he advocated. The OT was about following rules. Jesus taught about the truth of what is going on within. If you hate then itā€™s the same as murder and such. If we as people seek to transform our hearts, minds and spirits to truly grasp and live the lessons he taught then societies ills will drop away on their own, as symptoms disappear when the disease is treated. Furthermore, I think in his teachings labels and your position in society didnā€™t matter. What mattered is what is going on within and how that is reflected in your life and the way you deal with people. So, if you happen to have the label of master and you treat your slaves with respect and even love thatā€™s what counts. If you have the label of slave then donā€™t harbor resentment but do your work diligently and respect and love your master. works callsā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/138 "2010-03-03T14:35:02Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Iā€™ve never been convinced Jesus himself thought he was returning to earth soon so I dismissed that idea right away. Admittedly, Iā€™ve never done any study on this. I just never saw the evidence while reading the gospels. Matthew 16:27-28: ā€œFor the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/139 "2010-03-03T14:46:14Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Matthew 16:27-28: ā€œFor the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.ā€ Iā€™m familiar with the passage but it doesnā€™t convince me. I admit itā€™s possible he thought that. I just donā€™t see anything conclusive. In that dialogue he also said, > [@](#): > > 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Is he talking of spiritual death or a physical death? ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172/140 "2010-03-04T05:00:16Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Iā€™m familiar with the passage but it doesnā€™t convince me. I admit itā€™s possible he thought that. I just donā€™t see anything conclusive. In that dialog he also said, 24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? > > Is he talking of spiritual death or a physical death? > Is he talking of spiritual death or a physical death? A spiritual death. I think he means dying to self. It seems to me to be more about surrendering to Jesus and following him. Losing his life may mean losing some of your wealth or anything that keeps you from following Jesus. ā€œWhat good would it do a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soulā€. Here he is saying that power, money and prestige will not get you eternal life. Does this make sense ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-suppose-jesus-never-condemned-slavery/530172.md?page=8)