M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Beloved, Remember That People Will Come Mocking Christ’s Future Coming

3 Beloved, I am now writing this second letter to you, in which letters I am arousing your pure mind with a reminder ² to remember the words having been spoken-beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior from your apostles, ³ knowing this first— that mockers will come with mocking in the last days, proceeding in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and saying “Where is the promise^[a] of His coming? For from which day the fathers^[b] fell-asleep, everything is continuing in-this-manner^[c] from the beginning of creation”.

But God Has Destroyed The Ungodly Before, And He Will Do So Again

⁵ For this escapes-notice-of those who are willing^[d]— that by the word of God there were heavens from-long-ago, and an earth having existence out of water and by water, ⁶ through which^[e] the world at that time was destroyed^[f], having been flooded with water. ⁷ And by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored-up for fire, being reserved for the day of the judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

He Is Being Patient Now, But The Day of Destruction Will Come Like a Thief

⁸ But do not let this one thing be escaping your notice, beloved— that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not being slow about^[g] the promise as some regard slowness, but He is being patient toward you, not wishing^[h] any to perish, but all to make-room^[i] for repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief— during which the heavens will pass-away with-a-roar, and the elements will be destroyed while burning, and the earth and the works in it will be found^[j]. ¹¹ All these things thus being destroyed, what-kind-of people ought you to be in holy behaviors and acts of godliness, ¹² looking-for and hastening^[k] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed, being set-on-fire, and the elements are melted while burning. ¹³ But in accordance with His promise we are looking-for new heavens and a new earth, in which^[l] righteousness dwells.

So Be Diligent To Be Unspotted And Unblemished In This Day of Salvation

¹⁴ Therefore beloved, while looking-for these things, be diligent to be found unspotted^[m] and unblemished^[n] by^[o] Him, in peace. ¹⁵ And be regarding the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according-to^[p] the wisdom having been given to him, ¹⁶ as also he writes in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these things, in which letters are some things hard-to-understand which the untaught and unstable twist^[q]— as also the other^[r] Scriptures— to their own destruction.

Beloved, Be Guarding Yourselves And Growing In Christ

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, knowing-this-beforehand, be guarding yourselves in order that you may not fall-from your own steadfastness, having been carried-away-by^[s] the error of the lawless ones. ¹⁸ And be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now, and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Parables For Sinners And Pharisees

15 Now all the tax-collectors and the sinners were drawing-near to Him to hear Him. ² And both the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying that “This One is welcoming sinners and eating with them”.

The Lost Sheep And Lost Coin: Heaven Rejoices When a Sinner Repents

³ And He spoke this parable to them, saying ⁴ “What man from-among you having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them, does not leave-behind the ninety nine in the wilderness and proceed after the one having become-lost until he finds it? ⁵ And having found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And having come to the house, he calls-together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found my lost sheep!’ ⁷ I say to you that in this manner there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting more-than^[a] over ninety nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance. ⁸ Or what woman having ten drachmas^[b], if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek carefully until which time she finds it ? ⁹ And having found it, she calls together her women friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice-with me, because I found the drachma which I lost!’ ¹⁰ In this manner, I say to you, joy comes-about in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting”.

The Prodigal Son: The Father Rejoices When His Lost Son Returns

¹¹ And He said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the part of your substance^[c] falling to me’. And the one distributed^[d] his property to them. ¹³ And after not many days, having gathered together everything, the younger son went-on-a-journey to a distant country. And there he squandered his substance living wildly. ¹⁴ And he having spent everything, a severe famine came about in relation to that country, and he began to be-in-need. ¹⁵ And having gone, he joined himself to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ And he was desiring to be filled-to-satisfaction with the carob-pods which the pigs were eating. And no one was giving anything to him. ¹⁷ But having come to himself, he said, ‘How many hired-workers of my father are abounding^[e] with bread, but I am perishing^[f] here in a famine! ¹⁸ Having arisen, I will proceed to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired-workers”’. ²⁰ And having arisen, he went to his father. But he still being far distant, his father saw him and felt-deep-feelings [of love]. And having run, he fell upon his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son’. ²² But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring-out the best robe and put it on him. And give him a ring for his hand and sandals for the feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf. Slaughter it. And having eaten, let us celebrate! ²⁴ Because this son of mine was dead, and he became-alive-again. He had become-lost, and he was found’. And they began to celebrate.

The Older Brother Is Angered By His Father’s Joy

²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And when while coming he drew-near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ And having summoned one of the servants, he was inquiring as to what these things might be. ²⁷ And the one said to him that ‘Your brother has come. And your father slaughtered the fatted calf because he received him back being healthy’. ²⁸ And he became-angry, and was not willing to go in. And his father, having come out, was appealing-to him. ²⁹ But the one, having responded, said to his father, ‘Behold— I am slaving for you for so many years, and I never disregarded your command. And you never gave me a goat in order that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came— the one having devoured your property with prostitutes— you slaughtered the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹ And the one said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and all my things are yours. ³² But it-was-necessary to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and he became-alive. And he had become-lost, and he was found’”.