Thematic Bible: Self-denial


Thematic Bible






For even Christ did not please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."




Then Ezra rose up from before God's house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity.


For this child I prayed; and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives he is lent to the LORD." He worshiped the LORD there.


Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.




For even Christ did not please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."

Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. And he said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan. For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.


even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.


Do not overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles.


does not behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not irritable, does not keep a record of wrongs;




Isn't the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left."

but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.


For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,



By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith, he lived as a foreigner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.





And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men." And immediately they left the nets, and followed him. read more.
And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me." He left everything, and rose up and followed him.

When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.


but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?






These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.





even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.


You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"



If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.[note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin] It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,





Isn't the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left."

I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God."


Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore run like that, as not uncertainly. I fight like that, as not beating the air, but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.


"All things are lawful," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.



However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ


but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;


Then Peter answered, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"

Peter began to tell him, "Look, we have left everything, and have followed you."


All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,


She said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have anything baked, except a handful of flour in a jar, and a little oil in a jug. Behold, I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." And Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for yourself and for your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not empty, neither shall the jug of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.'" read more.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. And she, and he, and her household, ate for a long time.


By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;


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


Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.


And another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."


But they said, "We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons, forever: neither shall you build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any; but all your days you shall dwell in tents; that you may live many days in the land in which you live.'






put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.


Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. For even Christ did not please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."


But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's royal food, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? So would you endanger my head with the king." read more.
Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: "Test your servants for ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. Then let our faces be looked on before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king's royal food; and as you see, deal with your servants." So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them ten days. At the end of ten days their faces appeared better and fatter than all the youths who ate of the king's royal food. So the steward took away their royal food, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them vegetables.




Whoever does not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, read more.
saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace. So therefore whoever of you who does not renounce all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.


Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is translated, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.




She said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have anything baked, except a handful of flour in a jar, and a little oil in a jug. Behold, I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." And Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for yourself and for your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not empty, neither shall the jug of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.'" read more.
And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. And she, and he, and her household, ate for a long time.


And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men." And immediately they left the nets, and followed him. read more.
And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.






"Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."








Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is translated, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.


But they said, "We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons, forever: neither shall you build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any; but all your days you shall dwell in tents; that you may live many days in the land in which you live.'


But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." Then Daniel answered before the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself, and give your rewards to another;. Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.


Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? I will restore it to you." They said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand."






for all these put in gifts from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on."


Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering: I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them."




"Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish."


for all these put in gifts from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on."


But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's royal food, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.