Self-Denial
92 passages listed in Nave’s Topical Bible and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook. Verse text: Berean Standard Bible; links open in your translation.
56 sections
- A Test of Devotedness to Christ
- Abraham
- Abraham, when he offered to Lot (His Junior) his Preference of the Land of Canaan
- Apostles
- Barnabas
- Barnabas , in Selling his Possessions
- Becomes Strangers and Pilgrims
- Christ Set an Example of
- Danger of Neglecting
- Daniel
- Daniel, in his Abstention
- Daniel, in Refusing Rewards from Belshazzar
- Esther
- Esther, in Risking Her Life for the Deliverance of Her People
- General Scriptures Concerning
- Happy Result
- Ministers Especially Called to Exercise
- Moses
- Moses, in Taking No Compensation from the Israelites for his Services
- Necessary in Following Christ
- Necessary in the Warfare of Saints
- Necessary: To the Triumph of Saints
- Paul
- Paul, in Laboring for his own Support While he Also Taught
- Paul, in not Coveting Anyone's Silver, Gold, or Apparel
- Paul, in not Regarding Even his Life Dear to Himself
- Peter and the Other Apostles, in Abandoning Their Vocations and Following Jesus
- Poor Widow
- Rechabites
- Reward of
- Samuel, in his Administration of Justice
- should be Exercised in Abstaining from Fleshly Lusts
- should be Exercised in Assisting Others
- should be Exercised in Being Crucified to the World
- should be Exercised in Being Crucified with Christ
- should be Exercised in Controlling the Appetite
- should be Exercised in Crucifying the Flesh
- should be Exercised in Denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts
- should be Exercised in Even Lawful Things
- should be Exercised in Forsaking All
- should be Exercised in Mortifying Deeds of the Body
- should be Exercised in Mortifying Sinful Lusts
- should be Exercised in No Longer Living to Lusts of Men
- should be Exercised in not Pleasing Ourselves
- should be Exercised in not Seeking out own Profit
- should be Exercised in Preferring Christ to all Earthly Relations
- should be Exercised in Preferring the Profit of Others
- should be Exercised in Putting off the Old Man Which is Corrupt
- should be Exercised in Taking up the Cross and Following Christ
- Simon, Andrew, James, and John
- The Christians
- The Early Christians, in Having Everything in Common
- The Rechabites, in Refusing to Drink Wine or Strong Drink, or Even to Plant Vineyards
- The Widow of Zarephath, in Sharing with Elijah the Last of Her Sustenance
- The Widow, Who Put Everything She had Into the Treasury
- Widow of Zarephath
A Test of Devotedness to Christ
- Matthew 10:37–38 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; …
- Luke 9:23–24 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. …
Abraham
- 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.”
- Hebrews 11:8–9 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. …
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.”
Apostles
- Matthew 19:27 “Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”
Barnabas
- Acts 4:36–37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), …
Barnabas , in Selling his Possessions
- Acts 4:36–37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), …
Becomes Strangers and Pilgrims
- Hebrews 11:13–15 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. …
- 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
Christ Set an Example of
- Matthew 4:8–10 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. …
- Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
- John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
- Romans 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”
- Philippians 2:6–8 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, …
Danger of Neglecting
- Matthew 16:25–26 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. …
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Daniel
- Daniel 1:8–16 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 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 …
Esther
- 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 …
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 …
General Scriptures Concerning
- Genesis 22:1–12 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. …
- 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, …
- 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. …
- Matthew 8:19–22 And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” …
- 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; …
- 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. …
- Matthew 16:24–25 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. …
- Matthew 18:8–9 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. …
- Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
- Matthew 19:21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
- 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.
- Mark 8:34–35 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. …
- Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
- Mark 10:29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel
- Mark 12:43–44 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. …
- Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
- Luke 5:27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him,
- Luke 9:23–24 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. …
- Luke 9:57–60 As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” …
- Luke 14:26–33 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be My disciple. …
- Luke 18:27–30 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” …
- Luke 21:2–4 and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. …
- John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- Acts 20:22–24 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. …
- Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- Romans 8:12–13 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. …
- Romans 8:35–36 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …
- Romans 13:14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
- Romans 14:1–22 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. …
- Romans 15:1–5 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. …
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
- 1 Corinthians 8:10–13 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? …
- 1 Corinthians 9:12 If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
- 1 Corinthians 9:18–19 What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it. …
- 1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25–27 Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. …
- 1 Corinthians 10:23–24 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. …
- 2 Corinthians 6:3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
- Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
- Galatians 5:16–17 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. …
- Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Galatians 6:14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
- Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Philippians 3:7–9 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. …
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- 2 Timothy 2:4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
- Titus 2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
- Hebrews 13:13 Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.
- 1 Peter 2:11–16 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. …
- 1 Peter 4:1–2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. …
- 3 John 7 For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
- Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
Happy Result
- 2 Peter 1:4 Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Ministers Especially Called to Exercise
- 2 Corinthians 6:4–5 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; …
Moses
- Hebrews 11:24–25 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. …
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.”
Necessary in Following Christ
- Luke 14:27–33 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. …
Necessary in the Warfare of Saints
- 2 Timothy 2:4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
Necessary: To the Triumph of Saints
- 1 Corinthians 9:25–27 Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. …
Paul
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
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. …
- 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.
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 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. …
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. …
- 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, …
Poor Widow
- 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.”
Rechabites
- 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. …
Reward of
- Matthew 19:28–29 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. …
- Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
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 …
should be Exercised in Abstaining from Fleshly Lusts
- 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
should be Exercised in Assisting Others
- Luke 3:11 John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
should be Exercised in Being Crucified to the World
- Galatians 6:14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
should be Exercised in Being Crucified with Christ
- Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
should be Exercised in Controlling the Appetite
- Proverbs 23:2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
should be Exercised in Crucifying the Flesh
- Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
should be Exercised in Denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts
- Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
- Titus 2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
should be Exercised in Even Lawful Things
- 1 Corinthians 10:23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
should be Exercised in Forsaking All
- Luke 14:33 In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
should be Exercised in Mortifying Deeds of the Body
- Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
should be Exercised in Mortifying Sinful Lusts
- Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
should be Exercised in No Longer Living to Lusts of Men
- 1 Peter 4:2 Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
should be Exercised in not Pleasing Ourselves
- Romans 15:1–3 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. …
should be Exercised in not Seeking out own Profit
- 1 Corinthians 10:24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
- Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
should be Exercised in Preferring Christ to all Earthly Relations
- Matthew 8:21–22 Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” …
- Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be My disciple.
should be Exercised in Preferring the Profit of Others
- Romans 14:20–21 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. …
- 1 Corinthians 10:24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
- 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.
should be Exercised in Putting off the Old Man Which is Corrupt
- Ephesians 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
should be Exercised in Taking up the Cross and Following Christ
- Matthew 10:38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
- Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Simon, Andrew, James, and John
- 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. …
The Christians
The Early Christians, in Having Everything in Common
- Acts 2:44–45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. …
- 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,
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. …
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, …
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.”
Widow of Zarephath
- 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, …
Related topics
Self-Denial in Forsaking all and Following JesusEvilExpediencyAppetiteFaith in the offering up of Isaac
Topics: Nave’s Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook (1897), public domain, via the Berean Bible topical index.