Abstinence, as a discipline

Israel's abstinence from certain sorts of meat

Leviticus 7:22–27, Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21; Acts 10:9–14 God used the food laws to teach Peter a spiritual lesson.

Israel's abstinence from other things

Exodus 19:14–15; Leviticus 16:29–31; Numbers 6:1–4 See also Exodus 31:16–17; Numbers 29:7; Judges 13:4; 1 Samuel 21:4

When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work — whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you — because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, that you may humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

Abstinence from food

As an expression of repentance

1 Samuel 7:5–6; Ezra 10:6 See also 2 Samuel 1:11–12; Nehemiah 1:3–4; Joel 2:12; Jonah 3:5

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

Expressing a seeking after God

Acts 13:1–2 See also Matthew 4:1–2 parallel Luke 4:1–2; Matthew 9:14–15 parallels Mark 2:18–20, Luke 5:33–35; Luke 2:36–37; Acts 9:9, Acts 14:23; Romans 14:6

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen ( who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch ), and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Temporary sexual abstinence as a form of discipline

Exodus 19:15; 1 Samuel 21:4–5; 1 Corinthians 7:5

Denial of selfish desires

Matthew 16:24 parallels Mark 8:34, Luke 9:231 Peter 2:11 See also Romans 13:13

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Voluntary abstinence for the sake of others

1 Corinthians 8:13 See also Acts 15:19–20, Acts 15:29, Acts 21:25; Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:19–27, 1 Corinthians 10:15–31

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.

Abstinence may be hypocritical

Matthew 6:16 See also Isaiah 58:3–7; Jeremiah 14:10–12; Zechariah 7:2–6; Luke 18:11–12; 1 Timothy 4:2–5

When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.