13 Bible Verses about Asceticism, People Practicing

Then the LORD told Moses, "Tell the Israelis that a man or woman who commits to the vow of the Nazirite, is to be separated to the LORD, then is to remain separate from wine and strong drink. He is not to drink vinegar or strong drink made from wine. He is not to drink grape juice or eat grapes, whether fresh or dried. read more.
During the entire time of his dedication, he is not to eat any product from the grapevine, from the seed to the skin. During the entire time of his dedication, he is not to allow a razor to pass over his head until the days of his holy consecration to the LORD have been fulfilled. He is to let the locks on his head grow long. "During the entire time of his dedication, he is not to come near a dead body. He is not to defile himself on account of his father, mother, brother, and sister when they die, because the crown of his consecration to God is on his head. During the entire time of his dedication, he is set apart to God.

So be sure that you don't drink wine or anything intoxicating, and don't eat anything unclean because surprise! you're going to conceive and give birth to a son! Don't put a razor to his head, because the young man will be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from inside the womb. He will begin to deliver Israel from domination by the Philistines."

So he finally disclosed everything. He told her, "A razor has never touched my head, because I've been a Nazirite for God before I was born. If I am shaved, then my strength will abandon me and I will become weak like every human being."

John had clothing made of camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey.

Now John was dressed in camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist. He ate grasshoppers and wild honey.

Because John didn't come eating or drinking, yet people say, "He has a demon!'

Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, "He has a demon!'

Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees would fast regularly. Some people came and asked Jesus, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but your disciples don't fast?"

Then they told him, "John's disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do those of the Pharisees. But your disciples keep right on eating and drinking."

I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.'

The LORD spoke to Moses, "However, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It's a sacred assembly for you. Humble yourselves and bring an offering made by fire to the LORD. You are not to do any work that same day. It's the Day of Atonement, because your atonement is made in the presence of the LORD your God. read more.
Anyone who doesn't humble himself that same day is to be eliminated from contact with his people. I'll eliminate anyone who does work that day from among his people. You are not to do any work. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations, wherever you live. It's a Sabbath of rest for you on which you are to humble yourselves starting the evening of the ninth day of the month. You are to observe your Sabbath from evening to evening."

During the fourth year of the reign of King Darius, a message from the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month Kislev. The people of Bethel were sending Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men to pray in the LORD's presence and to speak to the priests assigned to the Temple of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies along with the prophets, asking, "Am I to go about mourning, denying myself throughout the fifth month, as I have these many years?"read more.
Then this message from the LORD of the Heavenly Armies came to me: "Talk to everyone in the land, as well as to the priests. Ask them, "When you were fasting and mourning during the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, were you really fasting for me?