M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

5 This is the account about the development of Adam’s family:

In the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. ² He created them male and female and blessed them, and on the day they were created, he named them “mankind.”^[a]

³ Adam lived 130 years, and he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his own image, and he named him Seth. ⁴ The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were 800 years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ⁵ All the days that Adam lived were 930 years. Then he died.

⁶ Seth lived 105 years, and he became the father of Enosh. ⁷ Seth lived 807 years after he became the father of Enosh, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ⁸ All the days of Seth were 912 years. Then he died.

⁹ Enosh lived 90 years, and he became the father of Kenan. ¹⁰ Enosh lived 815 years after he became the father of Kenan, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ¹¹ All the days of Enosh were 905 years. Then he died.

¹² Kenan lived 70 years, and he became the father of Mahalalel. ¹³ Kenan lived 840 years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ¹⁴ All the days of Kenan were 910 years. Then he died.

¹⁵ Mahalalel lived 65 years, and he became the father of Jared. ¹⁶ Mahalalel lived 830 years after he became the father of Jared, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ¹⁷ All the days of Mahalalel were 895 years. Then he died.

¹⁸ Jared lived 162 years, and he became the father of Enoch. ¹⁹ Jared lived 800 years after he became the father of Enoch, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ²⁰ All the days of Jared were 962 years. Then he died.

²¹ Enoch lived 65 years, and he became the father of Methuselah. ²² After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ²³ All the days of Enoch were 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God. Then, he was not there, for God took him.

²⁵ Methuselah lived 187 years, and he became the father of Lamech. ²⁶ After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ²⁷ All the days of Methuselah were 969 years. Then he died.

²⁸ Lamech lived 182 years and became the father of a son. ²⁹ He named him Noah^[b] and said, “This one will bring us comfort during our work and the hard labor that we must perform with our hands because the Lord has cursed the soil.” ³⁰ Lamech lived 595 years after he became father of Noah, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ³¹ All the days of Lamech were 777 years. Then he died.

³² Noah was 500 years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.^[c]

The Sermon on the Mount

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up onto a mountain. When he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² He opened his mouth and began to teach them. He said these things:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. In fact, that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its flavor, how will it become salty again? Then it is no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. No, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way let your light shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament

¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ Amen^[a] I tell you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest letter, or even part of a letter, will in any way pass away from the Law until everything is fulfilled. ¹⁹ So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ Indeed I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and experts in the law, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Sinful Anger

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[b] and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause^[c] will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’^[d] will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of hell^[e] fire.

²³ “So if you are about to offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “If someone accuses you, reach an agreement with him quickly, while you are with him on the way. Otherwise your accuser may bring you to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Amen I tell you: You will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Lust

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’^{[f] 28} but I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ If your right hand causes you to fall into sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Divorce

³¹ “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’^{[g] 32} But I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to be regarded as an adulteress. And whoever marries the divorced woman is regarded as an adulterer.

Oaths

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to people long ago, ‘Do not break your oaths, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’^{[h] 34} But I tell you, do not swear at all: not by heaven, because it is God’s throne; ³⁵ and not by earth, because it is his footstool; and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your own head, since you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Instead, let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes,’ or ‘No, no.’ Whatever goes beyond these is from the Evil One.

Love Your Enemies

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’^{[i] 39} But I tell you, do not resist an evildoer. If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you to take away your shirt, give him your coat too. ⁴¹ Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[j] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ Indeed if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even tax collectors do that, don’t they? ⁴⁷ If you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the unbelievers do that? ⁴⁸ So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Completion of the Second Temple

5 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah grandson^[a] of Iddo, prophesied to the Judeans who were in Judah^[b] and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. ² Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began to build the house of the God who is in Jerusalem.^[c] The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

³ At that time, Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, together with Shethar Bozenai and their associates, came up to them and said this to them: “Who gave you an order to construct this building and to finish this project?” ⁴ They^[d] also said this to them: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”

⁵ However, the eye of their God was on the Judean elders, and the officials did not make them stop until the report could go to Darius, and they could respond on the basis of a document concerning this matter.

⁶ This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar Bozenai and his associates, officials who are in Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. ⁷ They sent him a report, and this is what was written in it:

Ananias and Sapphira

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s knowledge, he kept back part of the proceeds for himself. Then he brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ Was it not yours before it was sold? And after it was sold, was not the money at your disposal? How could you plan such a thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. Great fear gripped everyone who heard about it. ⁶ The young men got up and wrapped up his body. Then they carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this how much you got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that was the price.”

⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How could you two agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are standing at the door, and they will carry you out too!”

¹⁰ Instantly she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. Then they carried her outside and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.

Many Miracles

¹² Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles. With one mind, they all continued meeting in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared to join them, but the people held them in high regard. ¹⁴ More and more believers in the Lord were added to their group, large numbers of both men and women. ¹⁵ As a result, people were even carrying the sick into the streets and laying them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem,^[a] bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

On Trial Before the Sanhedrin

¹⁷ The high priest rose up, along with his associates (that is, the party of the Sadducees), because they were filled with envy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life.” ²¹ After they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began to teach.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin (that is, the whole council of elders of the people of Israel). Then they sent orders to the jail to have the apostles brought in. ²² But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were puzzled about them, wondering what could have happened.

²⁵ Then someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people.”

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles in without force, because they were afraid that the people might stone them. ²⁷ After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked them, ²⁸ “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name?^[b] Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood down on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you arrested and killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. ³² We are witnesses^[c] of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and began making a plan to put them to death.^{[d] 34} But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was highly respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men^[e] be put outside for a little while.

³⁵ Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, all his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing.

³⁷ “After him, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and led many^[f] people in a revolt. He also was killed, and all his followers were scattered.

³⁸ “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and leave them alone! For if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them.^[g] Perhaps you might even be found to be fighting against God!”

⁴⁰ They were convinced by him. They summoned the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for the Name.^{[h] 42} Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.