18 Bible Verses about Abstinence as a discipline

On the morrow, while they were on their journey, and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the top of the house to pray, about the sixth hour. And he was very hungry, and desired something to eat: but while they were getting it ready, he fell into a trance; and saw heaven opened, and some thing descending to him, like a great sheet tied at the four corners, and let down to the earth:read more.
in which were all kinds of four-footed creatures, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there was a voice which said to him, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing polluted or unclean.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen who had been educated with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul; and as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.

Then was Jesus led by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil: and when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, at last He was very hungry.

Now Jesus being full of the holy Spirit, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted by the devil; and He did eat nothing in all those days: and when they were ended, at last He was hungry.

Then also come to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the pharisees fast much, but thy disciples do not fast? And Jesus said unto them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast.

And as the disciples of John, and of the pharisees used to fast, they came to Him, saying, Why do the disciples of John and of the pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the bridemen fast, when the bridegroom is with them? while the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast: but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them; and then shall they fast.

And they said unto Him, Why do the disciples of John frequently fast and pray, and likewise those of the pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And He said unto them, Can ye make those of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then they will fast.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; who was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her first marrying, and had been a widow about eighty four years; who departed not from the temple; serving God with fastings and prayers night and day.

And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.

He that regardeth a day regardeth it to the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, in deference to the Lord he doth not regard it. So he, that eateth all sorts of food, eateth to the Lord; for he giveth God thanks for it; and he that eateth not of some kinds of food, in deference to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks for the rest.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any one is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me:

And calling the people and his disciples to Him, He said unto them, Whosoever is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me:

And He said unto them all, if any one is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me:

Let us behave decently as being in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lasciviousness, not in strife and envying.

wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do any thing at which thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or weakened.

And when ye fast, be not, like the hypocrites, of a gloomy countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may be observed by men to fast: I tell you, they have indeed their reward.

The pharisee standing by himself prayed thus, O God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, rapacious, unjust, adulterous, or even as this publican. I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I possess.