Self-Denial

Passages on this topic

From Nave’s Topical Bible (1896), a historical reference index. The groupings are Nave’s; the verses are shown in the text used across this site.

General scriptures concerning

• Genesis 22:1–12 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” So Abraham got up early the nex…
• 2 Samuel 24:24 “No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
• Psalm 132:3–5 “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
• Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
• Proverbs 23:2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
• Daniel 10:3 I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.
• Matthew 5:29–30 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than fo…
• Matthew 8:19–22 And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus tol…
• Matthew 10:37–39 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake wil…
• Matthew 13:44–46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold al…

See Cross

See Humility

Instances of

Abraham, when he offered to Lot (his junior) his preference of the land of Canaan

• Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
• Genesis 17:8 And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing— all the land of Canaan— as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

Moses, in choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for only a little while

• Hebrews 11:25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

Moses, in taking no compensation from the Israelites for his services

• Numbers 16:15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”

Samuel, in his administration of justice

• 1 Samuel 12:3–4 Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied…

The widow of Zarephath, in sharing with Elijah the last of her sustenance

• 1 Kings 17:12–15 But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread— only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her.…

Daniel, in his abstention

• Daniel 1:8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.

Daniel, in refusing rewards from Belshazzar

• Daniel 5:16–17 But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler i…

Esther, in risking her life for the deliverance of her people

• Esther 4:16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

The Rechabites, in refusing to drink wine or strong drink, or even to plant vineyards

• Jeremiah 35:6–7 “We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine. Nor are you ever to build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Instead, you must live in tents all your lives, so…

Peter and the other apostles, in abandoning their vocations and following Jesus

• Matthew 4:20 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
• Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
• Mark 1:16–20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” And at once they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He s…
• Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
• Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
• Luke 5:27–28 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.

in forsaking all and following Jesus

• Matthew 19:27 “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
• Mark 10:28 Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

The widow, who put everything she had into the treasury

• Luke 21:4 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

The early Christians, in having everything in common

• Acts 2:44–45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
• Acts 4:34 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property , bring the proceeds from the sales,

Barnabas (Joses), in selling his possessions, and giving everything that he had received to the apostles

• Acts 4:36–37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Paul, in not regarding even his life dear to himself

• Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus — the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
• Philippians 3:7–8 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Paul, in not coveting anyone' s silver, gold, or apparel

• Acts 20:33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

Paul, in laboring for his own support while he also taught

• Acts 20:34–35 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• 1 Corinthians 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
• 1 Corinthians 10:33 as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.