Thematic Bible: Self-denial


Thematic Bible





For the Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached thee fell on me. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfInsultsSelfishnessUnselfishnessHumility Of ChristProphecies Concerning ChristNot Pleasing People


Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of the transgression of those that had been carried away. Verse ConceptsAbstinence as a disciplineFasting, Nature OfSorrowWaterFasting In Mourning

For this child I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore, I also have given him back to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall belong to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Verse ConceptsLeatherClothingBeltsAsceticism, People PracticingHairsInsectsJohn The BaptistLocustsWaistsHoneyHairclothHair GarmentsChristmas Tree



For the Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached thee fell on me. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfInsultsSelfishnessUnselfishnessHumility Of ChristProphecies Concerning ChristNot Pleasing People

Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them and said unto him, All these things I will give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said unto him, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross .

even as I please everyone in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfSelfishness, Shown InPleasing MenAdaptability


Because of food, do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor do any thing by which thy brother stumbles or is offended or is sick.

is not injurious, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, Verse ConceptsAggressionBeing In LoveIrritationMannersDo Not Be SelfishPeople Forgiving OthersUnconditional Love



Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Verse ConceptsPeople PartingTurning To Right And Left



Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold Verse ConceptsLackBuying and sellingMoney, Uses OfSacrificial GivingPlenty For The PoorAvoiding PovertyGiving Money To The ChurchSharingsales


Therefore, though I am free regarding everyone, yet I have made myself slave unto all, that I might gain the more. Verse ConceptsServant, BondSlavery, SpiritualTactChristian Liberty Is Freedom FromSoul WinnersAdaptabilityBe Subject To PeopleWinningBeing Yourselfexpectations

By faith Abraham, being called, hearkened to go out into the place which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he sojourned in the promised land, as in a strange country, dwelling in booths with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;




Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets and followed him. read more.
And when he had gone a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them; and leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, they went after him.

And after these things he went forth and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed him. Verse ConceptsFollowing Jesus Christdiscipleship, nature ofSelf DenialBoats


For whosoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?




These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off and believing them and embracing them and confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those that say such things declare plainly that they seek their native country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had time to have returned.



even as I please everyone in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfSelfishness, Shown InPleasing MenAdaptability


Moreover, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities and to those that were with me. I have showed you in all things how that so labouring, ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.


And if thy hand causes thee to fall, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that can never be quenched, Verse ConceptsCripplesPunishment, By GodSelf DenialGehennaEntering LifeCausing Others To StumbleNot Maintaining LifeFire Of HellCutting Off Hands And FeetTwo Of Body PartsMissing The Markcutting



Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Verse ConceptsPeople PartingTurning To Right And Left

And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land in which thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting inheritance; and I will be their God. Verse ConceptsBlessings, To AbrahamGod, The EternalLand, As A Divine GiftProperty, LandThe Promised LandEternal PossessionSojourningI Will Be Their God

And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we, an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as unto an uncertain thing; so I fight, not as one that beats the air; but I keep my body under, and bring it into subjection, lest preaching to others, I myself should become reprobate.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify. Verse ConceptsFreedom, Abuse Of ChristianUseless ThingsProfitable ThingsBuilding Up The ChurchFulfilling The LawChristian LibertyReligious Freedomeverything


But those things which were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ. And doubtless I even count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

But in all things showing ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

Then Peter answered and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? Verse ConceptsBeing A PilgrimPeter, The DiscipleSelf DenialSaints, As PilgrimsPilgrims, Examples OfNever Giving Upfollowing

Then Peter began to say unto him, Behold, we have left all and have followed thee. Verse ConceptsSurrenderingPeter, The DiscipleForsaking All OthersRenunciationSelf Denial

And all that believed were together and had all things common and sold their possessions and property and distributed them to everyone, as each one had need.

Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold Verse ConceptsLackBuying and sellingMoney, Uses OfSacrificial GivingPlenty For The PoorAvoiding PovertyGiving Money To The ChurchSharingsales

And she said, As the LORD thy God lives, I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a pitcher and a little oil in a cruse; and now I was gathering two sticks that I may go in and prepare it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but first make me a little cake of bread baked under the ashes and bring it unto me, and afterwards thou shalt make for thee and for thy son. For thus hath said the LORD God of Israel, The pitcher of meal shall not be consumed, neither shall the cruse of oil fail until that day when the LORD shall send rain upon the earth. read more.
And she went and did as Elijah told her; and he and she and her house ate for many days.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,

He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that has forsaken houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake shall receive a hundredfold and shall inherit eternal life.

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.

But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: neither shall ye build a house, nor sow seed, nor plant a vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye are strangers.



and put a knife to thy throat if thou art a man given to appetite. Verse ConceptsKnifesDelight, God ExpressingKnivesDietsOverweightObesityEtiquetteovereating

We then that are stronger ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbour in that which is good, unto edification. For the Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached thee fell on me.

And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (And God brought Daniel into grace and mercy with the prince of the eunuchs.) And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for when he shall see your faces more downcast than the other young men who are like unto you, then ye shall condemn my head before the king. read more.
Then Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove, now, with thy slaves ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the young men that eat of the portion of the king's food; and as thou seest, deal with thy slaves. So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than the young men who ate the portion of the king's food. Thus Melzar took the portion of their food and the wine that they should drink and gave them vegetables.


And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? Lest perhaps after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, read more.
saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and desires conditions of peace. So likewise, any one of you that does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Then Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.


And she said, As the LORD thy God lives, I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a pitcher and a little oil in a cruse; and now I was gathering two sticks that I may go in and prepare it for me and my son, that we may eat it and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but first make me a little cake of bread baked under the ashes and bring it unto me, and afterwards thou shalt make for thee and for thy son. For thus hath said the LORD God of Israel, The pitcher of meal shall not be consumed, neither shall the cruse of oil fail until that day when the LORD shall send rain upon the earth. read more.
And she went and did as Elijah told her; and he and she and her house ate for many days.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets and followed him. read more.
And when he had gone a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them; and leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, they went after him.



Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so I will go in unto the king, even though this is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Verse ConceptsFasting, Examples OfPray For UsFastingFasting And Prayer




Then Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: neither shall ye build a house, nor sow seed, nor plant a vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye are strangers.

And I have heard of thee, that thou canst declare that which is in doubt and unravel difficulties: now if thou canst read this writing and show me its interpretation, thou shalt be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about thy neck and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be for thyself and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king and show him the interpretation.

Behold, here I am; witness against me before the LORD and before his anointed. If I have taken anyone's ox or if I have taken anyone's ass or if I have defrauded anyone or if I have oppressed anyone or if I have received a bribe from anyone to blind my eyes, I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us nor oppressed us; neither hast thou taken anything of any man's hand.



for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God, but she out of her poverty has cast in all the living that she had. Verse ConceptsPoverty, Causes OfSacrificial GivingSurplusBlessings Of The Poor

Then Moses was very angry and said unto the LORD, Look not thou upon their offering; I have not taken so much as one ass from them, neither have I done evil to any of them. Verse ConceptsIntegrityFraudAnger, HumanAnger, Justified ExamplesLoss Of DonkeysNamed People Angry With OthersRespectHurthurting


Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so I will go in unto the king, even though this is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Verse ConceptsFasting, Examples OfPray For UsFastingFasting And Prayer

for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God, but she out of her poverty has cast in all the living that she had. Verse ConceptsPoverty, Causes OfSacrificial GivingSurplusBlessings Of The Poor

And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Verse ConceptsAbstinenceConformityAlcoholCivil authoritiesDefilement, Ceremonial CausesGood Decision Making ExamplesDecisivenessLuxurySelf DenialSelf DisciplineSelf IndulgenceTemptation, ResistingForbidden FoodDefilementEating Meatpork