What does Jesus say about self-denial?

Answer 1

Deny thyself is written in Luke 9:23 And 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.

9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Jesus taught to love others as thyself. Jesus never taught Love Thyself.

I think what Jesus meant was not to love thyself because this will lead to vanity, Narcissism and bloated ego. So by denying oneself we learn to love others without expecting any rewards, just as Jesus loves mankind unconditionally, to the point of giving up his own life.

The phrase "whosoever will lose his life" I think is not literal. maybe it means to die every night losing your old self and be born again the next morning without the carrying the anchor of the past and see the day as a brand new day.

Additional verses that support this teaching;

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:39"The LORD will destroy the house of the proud." Proverbs 15:25 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves (self-love), covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more .... " 2 Timothy 3