M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Joshua’s Farewell Address
23 Now it came about after many days, when the Lord had given (A)rest to Israel from all their enemies [a]on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years, 2 that (B)Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them, “I am old, advanced in years. 3 And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for (C)the Lord your God is He who has been fighting for you. 4 See, (D)I have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun. 5 The Lord your God, He will thrust them out from before you and [b](E)drive them from before you; and (F)you will possess their land, just as the Lord your God [c]promised you. 6 (G)Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 so that you will not [d]associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or (H)mention the name of their gods, or (I)make anyone swear by them, or (J)serve them, or bow down to them. 8 But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. 9 (K)For the Lord has [e]driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, (L)no man has stood before you to this day. 10 (M)One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is (N)He who fights for you, just as He [f]promised you. 11 So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God. 12 For if you ever go back and (O)cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and (P)intermarry with them, so that you [g]associate with them and they with you, 13 know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to [h]drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a (Q)snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you.
14 “Now behold, today (R)I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that (S)not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have [i]been fulfilled for you, not [j]one of them has failed. 15 It shall come about that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you have come upon you, so (T)the Lord will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. 16 (U)When you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”
Healing the Lame Beggar
3 Now (A)Peter and John were going up to the temple at the [a]ninth hour, (B)the hour of prayer. 2 And (C)a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they (D)used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, (E)in order to beg [b]alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw (F)Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, (G)fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: (H)In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 [c](I)With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And (J)all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to (K)sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter’s Second Sermon
11 While he was clinging to (L)Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called [d](M)portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 (N)The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, (O)the God of our fathers, has glorified His [e](P)servant Jesus, the one whom (Q)you delivered and disowned in the presence of (R)Pilate, when he had (S)decided to release Him. 14 But you disowned (T)the Holy and Righteous One and (U)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the [f](V)Prince of life, the one whom (W)God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are (X)witnesses. 16 And on the basis of faith (Y)in His name, it is [g]the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted (Z)in ignorance, just as your (AA)rulers did also. 18 But the things which (AB)God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, (AC)that His [h]Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Therefore (AD)repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that (AE)times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the [i]Christ appointed for you, 21 (AF)whom heaven must receive until the [j]period of (AG)restoration of all things about which (AH)God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22 Moses said, ‘(AI)The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet [k]like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. 23 (AJ)And it will be that every (AK)soul that does not heed that prophet (AL)shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 And likewise, (AM)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25 It is you who are (AN)the sons of the prophets and of the (AO)covenant which God [l]made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘(AP)And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 For you (AQ)first, God (AR)raised up His [m]Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Jeremiah’s Prayer
12 (A)Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You;
Indeed I would (B)discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the (C)way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who (D)deal in treachery at ease?
2 You have (E)planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have even produced fruit.
You are (F)near [a]to their lips
But far from their [b]mind.
3 But You (G)know me, O Lord;
You see me;
And You (H)examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter
And [c]set them apart for a (I)day of carnage!
4 How long is the (J)land to mourn
And the (K)vegetation of the countryside to wither?
For the (L)wickedness of those who dwell in it,
(M)Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because men have said, “He will not see our latter (N)ending.”
5 “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,
Then how can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the [d](O)thicket of the Jordan?
6 “For even your (P)brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have cried aloud after you.
Do not believe them, although they may say (Q)nice things to you.”
God’s Answer
7 “I have (R)forsaken My house,
I have abandoned My inheritance;
I have given the (S)beloved of My soul
Into the hand of her enemies.
8 “My inheritance has become to Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She has [e](T)roared against Me;
Therefore I have come to (U)hate her.
9 “Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?
Are the (V)birds of prey against her on every side?
Go, gather all the (W)beasts of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10 “Many (X)shepherds have ruined My (Y)vineyard,
They have (Z)trampled down My field;
They have made My (AA)pleasant field
A desolate wilderness.
11 “[f]It has been made a desolation,
Desolate, it (AB)mourns [g]before Me;
The (AC)whole land has been made desolate,
Because no man (AD)lays it to heart.
12 “On all the [h](AE)bare heights in the wilderness
Destroyers have come,
For a (AF)sword of the Lord is devouring
From one end of the land even to the [i]other;
There is (AG)no peace for [j]anyone.
13 “They have (AH)sown wheat and have reaped thorns,
They have (AI)strained themselves [k]to no profit.
But be ashamed of your [l](AJ)harvest
Because of the (AK)fierce anger of the Lord.”
14 Thus says the Lord concerning all My (AL)wicked neighbors who (AM)strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel, “Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will (AN)uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will (AO)again have compassion on them; and I will (AP)bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. 16 Then if they will really (AQ)learn the ways of My people, to (AR)swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught My people to (AS)swear by Baal, they will be (AT)built up in the midst of My people. 17 But if they will not listen, then I will (AU)uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
26 (A)When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, 2 “(B)You know that after two days (C)the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be (D)handed over for crucifixion.”
3 (E)Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in (F)the court of the high priest, named (G)Caiaphas; 4 and they (H)plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. 5 But they were saying, “Not during the festival, (I)otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”
The Precious Ointment
6 (J)Now when Jesus was in (K)Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7 (L)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8 But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. 11 For you always have (M)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12 For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it (N)to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, (O)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
Judas’s Bargain
14 (P)Then one of the twelve, named (Q)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me [a]to [b](R)betray Him to you?” And (S)they weighed out thirty [c]pieces of silver to him. 16 From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to [d]betray [e]Jesus.
17 (T)Now on the first day of (U)Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to (V)a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “(W)My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Last Passover
20 (X)Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, He said, “(Y)Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they [f]each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “(Z)He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man is to go, (AA)just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! (AB)It would have been good [g]for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And (AC)Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, (AD)Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “(AE)You have said it yourself.”
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 (AF)While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and [h](AG)after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for (AH)this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for (AI)many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 (AJ)After singing a hymn, they went out to (AK)the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all [i](AL)fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘(AM)I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be (AN)scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, (AO)I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may [j]fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “(AP)Truly I say to you that (AQ)this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter *said to Him, “(AR)Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.
The Garden of Gethsemane
36 (AS)Then Jesus *came with them to a place called (AT)Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him (AU)Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He *said to them, “(AV)My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and (AW)keep watch with Me.”
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let (AX)this cup pass from Me; (AY)yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not (AZ)keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 (BA)Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; (BB)the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this (BC)cannot pass away unless I drink it, (BD)Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “[k]Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, (BE)the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest
47 (BF)While He was still speaking, behold, (BG)Judas, one of the twelve, came up [l]accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, (BH)Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “(BI)Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
51 And behold, (BJ)one of those who were with Jesus [m]reached and drew out his (BK)sword, and struck the (BL)slave of the high priest and [n]cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for (BM)all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve [o](BN)legions of (BO)angels? 54 How then will (BP)the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? (BQ)Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this has taken place to fulfill (BR)the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
Jesus before Caiaphas
57 (BS)Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to (BT)Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But (BU)Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the (BV)courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the [p](BW)officers to see the outcome.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole [q](BX)Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on (BY)two came forward, 61 and said, “This man stated, ‘(BZ)I am able to destroy the [r]temple of God and to rebuild it [s]in three days.’” 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 63 But (CA)Jesus kept silent. (CB)And the high priest said to Him, “I [t](CC)adjure You by (CD)the living God, that You tell us whether You are [u]the Christ, (CE)the Son of God.” 64 Jesus *said to him, “(CF)You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, [v]hereafter you will see (CG)the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and (CH)coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest (CI)tore his [w]robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66 what do you think?” They answered, “(CJ)He deserves death!”
67 (CK)Then they (CL)spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others [x]slapped Him, 68 and said, “(CM)Prophesy to us, You [y]Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Peter’s Denials
69 (CN)Now Peter was sitting outside in the (CO)courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; (CP)for even the way you talk [z]gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “(CQ)Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.