18 Bible Verses about Abstinence as a discipline

On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about mid-day to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance, And saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth.read more.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds. Then he was aware of a voice which said-- "Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat." "No, Lord, I cannot," answered Peter, "for I have never eaten anything 'defiled' and 'unclean'."

Among the members of the Church at Antioch there were several Prophets and Teachers--Barnabas, Simeon who was known by the name of 'Black', Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, foster-brother of Prince Herod, and Saul. While they were engaged in the worship of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit said: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."

Then Jesus was led up into the Wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. And, after he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he became hungry.

On returning from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the power of the Spirit through the Wilderness for forty days, tempted by the Devil. All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry.

Then John's disciples came to Jesus, and asked: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast while your disciples do not?" Jesus answered: "Can the bridegroom's friends mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be parted from them, and they will fast then.

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were keeping a fast, and people came and asked Jesus: "Why is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, while yours do not?" Jesus answered: "Can the bridegroom's friends 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 will be parted from them, and they will fast then--when that day comes.

"John's disciples," they said to Jesus, "Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!" But Jesus answered them: "Can you make the bridegroom's friends fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come--a time when the bridegroom will be parted from them; and they will fast then, when those days come."

There was also a Prophetess named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage, And then a widow, till she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.

And for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.

He who observes a day, observes it to the Master's honor. He, again, who eats meat eats it to the Master's honor, for he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains from it abstains from it to the Master's honor, and also gives thanks to God.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Calling the people and his disciples to him, Jesus said: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me.

And to all present he said: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Being in the light of Day, let us live becomingly, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lust and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.

In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God, But we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.

The right course is to abstain from meat or wine or, indeed, anything that is a stumbling-block to your Brother.

And, when you fast, do not put on gloomy looks, as hypocrites do who disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. That, I tell you, is their reward!

The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way--'O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men-- thieves, rogues, adulterers--or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.'