18 Bible Verses about Abstinence as a discipline

Then the next morning, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray about the sixth hour: and he grew very hungry, and desired something to eat: but whilst they were getting it ready, a sacred ecstacy fell upon him. And he saw heaven opened, and there descended to him a certain vessel, as a great sheet with chains at the four corners, and resting upon the earth:read more.
in which were all the quadrupeds of the earth, and wild beasts, and reptiles, and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; slay and eat. But Peter said, By no means, Lord for I have never at any time eaten of any thing common or unclean.

NOW there were at Antioch, according to the established church, prophets and teachers; such as Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger the black, and Lucius a Cyrenian, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's foster-brother, and Saul. And as they were employed in the ministry, and kept a fast, the Holy Ghost said, Set apart for me now both Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

THEN was Jesus led away by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he became hungry.

THEN Jesus full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the spirit into the wilderness, being tempted forty days by the devil; and did eat nothing during those days: and when they were ended, afterwards he was hungry.

Then came unto him disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees keep many fasts, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber weep, whilst the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees kept fasts; and they came and said to him, Wherefore do the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees, fast? but thy disciples keep no fast. And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Then said they unto him, Why do the disciples of John observe frequent fasts, and make prayers; but thine are eating and drinking? And he said unto them, Can you make the children of the bridechamber fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then shall they fast in those days.

And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asser: she was far advanced in old age, having lived but seven years with a husband, from her virgin state: though she was now a widow, of about eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, attending the divine service, with fastings and prayers night and day:

And he was three days seeing nothing, and did neither eat nor drink.

He that observeth a day, to the Lord he observeth it; and he that observeth not a day, to the Lord he doth not observe it. He that eateth, to the Lord he eateth, for he giveth thanks to God; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth thanks to God.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Then calling to him the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

And he said unto them, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Let us walk becomingly as in the face of day, not in revels and drunkenness, not in impurities and wantonness, not in strife and envy.

Therefore I am decided, that we give no unnecessary disquietude to those who from the heathen have turned to God: but that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idol [sacrifices], and from whoredom, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

It is laudable not to eat flesh, or to drink wine, nor to do any thing whereby thy brother is stumbled, or scandalized, or weakened.

And when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, affecting a gloomy look: for they disfigure their visages, that they may make a shew of fasting to men. Verily I say unto you, That they have their reward.

The Pharisee, standing by himself, made this prayer: God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this tax-gatherer. I keep a fast twice a week, I pay the tenth of all things I possess.