Self-denial

Self-denial is setting aside one's own wants and comforts to follow Christ and serve others. This page lists verses on taking up the cross, counting the cost, putting others first, giving up rights for the gospel, mastering the body, and examples of self-denial.

Take up the cross

• Luke 9:23-24
  ²³And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. ²⁴For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
  Show context · Read Luke 9 →
• Matthew 10:38-39
  ³⁸And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
  Show context · Read Matthew 10 →
• Luke 14:27
  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
  Show context · Read Luke 14 →
• John 12:24-25
  ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
  Show context · Read John 12 →
• Galatians 2:20
  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
  Show context · Read Galatians 2 →
• Acts 20:24
  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
  Show context · Read Acts 20 →

Counting the cost

• Luke 14:26
  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
  Show context · Read Luke 14 →
• Luke 14:33
  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
  Show context · Read Luke 14 →
• Luke 9:57-62
  ⁵⁷And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” ⁵⁸And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” ⁵⁹And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ⁶⁰Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” ⁶²And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
  Show context · Read Luke 9 →
• Matthew 19:21
  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
  Show context · Read Matthew 19 →
• Mark 10:28-30
  ²⁸Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.” ²⁹And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel ³⁰But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
  Show context · Read Mark 10 →
• Philippians 3:7-8
  ⁷But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
  Show context · Read Philippians 3 →

Others before self

• Philippians 2:3-4
  ³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
  Show context · Read Philippians 2 →
• Romans 15:1-3
  ¹We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ²Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”
  Show context · Read Romans 15 →
• 1 Corinthians 10:24
  Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 10 →
• 1 Corinthians 13:5
  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 13 →
• Romans 12:10
  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
  Show context · Read Romans 12 →

Giving up rights for the gospel

• 1 Corinthians 9:12
  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 9 →
• 1 Corinthians 9:19
  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 9 →
• 1 Corinthians 8:13
  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 8 →
• Romans 14:21
  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
  Show context · Read Romans 14 →

Mastering the body

• 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
  ²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. ²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. ²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 9 →
• Romans 8:13
  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
  Show context · Read Romans 8 →
• Galatians 5:24
  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
  Show context · Read Galatians 5 →
• Colossians 3:5
  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →
• Romans 13:14
  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
  Show context · Read Romans 13 →

Examples of self-denial

• Genesis 13:8-9
  ⁸And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers. ⁹Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
  Show context · Read Genesis 13 →
• Hebrews 11:24-26
  ²⁴By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. ²⁶Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 11 →
• Daniel 1:8
  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
  Show context · Read Daniel 1 →
• 2 Samuel 24:24
  And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
  Show context · Read 2 Samuel 24 →
• Esther 4:16
  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
  Show context · Read Esther 4 →
• Luke 5:11
  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
  Show context · Read Luke 5 →

See also

• Discipleship
• Sacrifice
• Self-control
• Humility
• Service
• Worldliness

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.