M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Clothes for the Priests
39 They used blue, purple, and red thread to make woven clothes for the priests to wear when they served in the Holy Place. They made the holy clothes for Aaron as the Lord had commanded Moses.
2 They made the holy vest of gold, and blue, purple, and red thread, and fine linen. 3 They hammered the gold into sheets and then cut it into long, thin strips. They worked the gold into the blue, purple, and red thread, and fine linen. This was done by skilled craftsmen. 4 They made the shoulder straps for the holy vest, which were attached to the top corners of the vest and tied together over each shoulder. 5 The skillfully woven belt was made in the same way; it was joined to the holy vest as one piece. It was made of gold, and blue, purple, and red thread, and fine linen, the way the Lord commanded Moses.
6 They put gold around the onyx stones and then wrote the names of the sons of Israel on these gems, as a person carves words and designs on a seal. 7 Then they attached the gems on the shoulder straps of the holy vest, as reminders of the twelve sons of Israel. This was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
8 The skilled craftsmen made the chest covering like the holy vest; it was made of gold, and blue, purple, and red thread, and fine linen. 9 The chest covering was square—nine inches long and nine inches wide—and it was folded double to make a pocket. 10 Then they put four rows of beautiful jewels on it: In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz, and a yellow quartz; 11 in the second there was a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; 12 in the third there was a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 in the fourth there was a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. Gold was put around these jewels to attach them to the chest covering, 14 and the names of the sons of Israel were carved on these twelve jewels as a person carves a seal. Each jewel had the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
15 They made chains of pure gold, twisted together like a rope, for the chest covering. 16 The workers made two gold pieces and two gold rings. They put the two gold rings on the two upper corners of the chest covering. 17 Then they put two gold chains in the two rings at the ends of the chest covering, 18 and they fastened the other two ends of the chains to the two gold pieces. They attached these gold pieces to the two shoulder straps in the front of the holy vest. 19 They made two gold rings and put them at the lower corners of the chest covering on the inside edge next to the holy vest. 20 They made two more gold rings on the bottom of the shoulder straps in front of the holy vest, near the seam, just above the woven belt of the holy vest. 21 They used a blue ribbon and tied the rings of the chest covering to the rings of the holy vest, connecting it to the woven belt. In this way the chest covering would not swing out from the holy vest. They did all these things the way the Lord commanded.
22 Then they made the outer robe to be worn under the holy vest. It was woven only of blue cloth. 23 They made a hole in the center of the outer robe, with a woven collar sewn around it so it would not tear. 24 Then they made balls like pomegranates of blue, purple, and red thread, and fine linen and hung them around the bottom of the outer robe. 25 They also made bells of pure gold and hung these around the bottom of the outer robe between the balls. 26 So around the bottom of the outer robe there was a bell and a pomegranate ball, a bell and a pomegranate ball. The priest wore this outer robe when he served as priest, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
27 They wove inner robes of fine linen for Aaron and his sons, 28 and they made turbans, headbands, and underclothes of fine linen. 29 Then they made the cloth belt of fine linen, and blue, purple, and red thread, and designs were sewn onto it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30 They made a strip of pure gold, which is the holy crown, and carved these words in the gold, as one might carve on a seal: “Holy to the Lord.” 31 Then they tied this flat piece to the turban with a blue ribbon, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
32 So all the work on the Meeting Tent was finished. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 33 Then they brought the Holy Tent to Moses: the Tent and all its furniture, hooks, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases; 34 the covering made of male sheepskins colored red, the covering made of fine leather, and the curtain that covered the entrance to the Most Holy Place; 35 the Ark of the Agreement, its poles and lid; 36 the table, all its containers, and the bread that showed they were in God’s presence; 37 the pure gold lampstand with its lamps in a row, all its tools, and the olive oil for the light; 38 the gold altar, the special olive oil used for appointing priests, the sweet-smelling incense, and the curtain that covered the entrance to the Tent; 39 the bronze altar and its screen, its poles and all its tools, the bowl and its stand; 40 the curtains for the courtyard with their posts and bases, the curtain that covered the entry to the courtyard, the cords, pegs, and all the things in the Meeting Tent. 41 They brought the clothes for the priests to wear when they served in the Holy Tent—the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons, which they wore when they served as priests.
42 The Israelites had done all this work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 Moses looked closely at all the work and saw they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
Jesus Is Arrested
18 When Jesus finished praying, he went with his followers across the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and Jesus and his followers went into it.
2 Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his followers. Judas was the one who turned against Jesus. 3 So Judas came there with a group of soldiers and some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
4 Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”
5 They answered, “Jesus from Nazareth.”
“I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who turned against Jesus, was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they moved back and fell to the ground.
7 Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?”
They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “So if you are looking for me, let the others go.” 9 This happened so that the words Jesus said before would come true: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me.”
10 Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back. Shouldn’t I drink the cup[a] the Father gave me?”
Jesus Is Brought Before Annas
12 Then the soldiers with their commander and the guards arrested Jesus. They tied him 13 and led him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who told the Jews that it would be better if one man died for all the people.
Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus
15 Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ followers went along after Jesus. This follower knew the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower who knew the high priest came back outside, spoke to the girl at the door, and brought Peter inside. 17 The girl at the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of that man’s followers?”
Peter answered, “No, I am not!”
18 It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire and were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 The high priest asked Jesus questions about his followers and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to everyone. I have always taught in synagogues and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together. I never said anything in secret. 21 So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there hit him. The guard said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then show what it was. But if what I said is true, why do you hit me?”
24 Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Says Again He Doesn’t Know Jesus
25 As Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, they said to him, “Aren’t you one of that man’s followers?”
Peter said it was not true; he said, “No, I am not.”
26 One of the servants of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. The servant said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”
27 Again Peter said it wasn’t true. At once a rooster crowed.
Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate
28 Early in the morning they led Jesus from Caiaphas’s house to the Roman governor’s palace. They would not go inside the palace, because they did not want to make themselves unclean;[b] they wanted to eat the Passover meal. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and asked, “What charges do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered, “If he were not a criminal, we wouldn’t have brought him to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we are not allowed to put anyone to death,” the Jews answered. 32 (This happened so that what Jesus said about how he would die would come true.)
33 Then Pilate went back inside the palace and called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus said, “Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “I am not one of you. It was your own people and their leading priests who handed you over to me. What have you done wrong?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being given over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is from another place.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king!”
Jesus answered, “You are the one saying I am a king. This is why I was born and came into the world: to tell people the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”
38 Pilate said, “What is truth?” After he said this, he went out to the crowd again and said to them, “I find nothing against this man. 39 But it is your custom that I free one prisoner to you at Passover time. Do you want me to free the ‘king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Let Barabbas go free!” (Barabbas was a robber.)
15 A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger,
but an unkind answer will cause more anger.
2 Wise people use knowledge when they speak,
but fools pour out foolishness.
3 The Lord’s eyes see everything;
he watches both evil and good people.
4 As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life,
but dishonest words crush the spirit.
5 Fools reject their parents’ correction,
but anyone who accepts correction is wise.
6 Much wealth is in the houses of good people,
but evil people get nothing but trouble.
7 Wise people use their words to spread knowledge,
but there is no knowledge in the thoughts of fools.
8 The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked offer,
but he likes the prayers of honest people.
9 The Lord hates what evil people do,
but he loves those who do what is right.
10 The person who quits doing what is right will be punished,
and the one who hates to be corrected will die.
11 The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead,
so he surely knows the thoughts of the living.
12 Those who make fun of wisdom don’t like to be corrected;
they will not ask the wise for advice.
13 Happiness makes a person smile,
but sadness can break a person’s spirit.
14 People with understanding want more knowledge,
but fools just want more foolishness.
15 Every day is hard for those who suffer,
but a happy heart is like a continual feast.
16 It is better to be poor and respect the Lord
than to be wealthy and have much trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than to eat meat with those who hate you.
18 People with quick tempers cause trouble,
but those who control their tempers stop a quarrel.
19 A lazy person’s life is like a patch of thorns,
but an honest person’s life is like a smooth highway.
20 Wise children make their father happy,
but foolish children disrespect their mother.
21 A person without wisdom enjoys being foolish,
but someone with understanding does what is right.
22 Plans fail without good advice,
but they succeed with the advice of many others.
23 People enjoy giving good advice.
Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.
24 Wise people’s lives get better and better.
They avoid whatever would cause their death.
25 The Lord will tear down the proud person’s house,
but he will protect the widow’s property.
26 The Lord hates evil thoughts
but is pleased with kind words.
27 Greedy people bring trouble to their families,
but the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.
28 Good people think before they answer,
but the wicked simply pour out evil.
29 The Lord does not listen to the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of those who do right.
30 Good news makes you feel better.
Your happiness will show in your eyes.
31 If you listen to correction to improve your life,
you will live among the wise.
32 Those who refuse correction hate themselves,
but those who accept correction gain understanding.
33 Respect for the Lord will teach you wisdom.
If you want to be honored, you must be humble.
2 Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? 2 If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. 3 When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. 4 Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.
Be Unselfish Like Christ
5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.
6 Christ himself was like God in everything.
But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.
7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.
He was born as a man
and became like a servant.
8 And when he was living as a man,
he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God,
even when that caused his death—death on a cross.
9 So God raised him to the highest place.
God made his name greater than every other name
10 so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus—
everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
and bring glory to God the Father.
Be the People God Wants You to Be
12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God when I was with you. It is even more important that you obey now while I am away from you. Keep on working to complete your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 because God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15 Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God’s children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. 16 You offer the teaching that gives life. So when Christ comes again, I can be happy because my work was not wasted. I ran the race and won.
17 Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. If I have to offer my own blood with your sacrifice, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you. 18 You also should be happy and full of joy with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. I will be happy to learn how you are. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who truly cares for you. 21 Other people are interested only in their own lives, not in the work of Jesus Christ. 22 You know the kind of person Timothy is. You know he has served with me in telling the Good News, as a son serves his father. 23 I plan to send him to you quickly when I know what will happen to me. 24 I am sure that the Lord will help me to come to you soon.
25 Epaphroditus, my brother in Christ, works and serves with me in the army of Christ. When I needed help, you sent him to me. I think now that I must send him back to you, 26 because he wants very much to see all of you. He is worried because you heard that he was sick. 27 Yes, he was sick, and nearly died, but God had mercy on him and me too so that I would not have more sadness. 28 I want very much to send him to you so that when you see him you can be happy, and I can stop worrying about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with much joy. Give honor to people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you could not give in your service to me.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.