M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Death of Abraham
25 Abraham took another wife whose name was Keturah. 2 She gave birth to his sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the women he kept who acted as his wives. And he sent them to the land of the East, away from his son Isaac. 7 Abraham lived 175 years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died, after living a long and full life of many good years, and was buried with his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the grave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre. 10 This was the field that Abraham bought from the sons of Heth. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah. 11 After the death of Abraham, God brought good to his son Isaac. And Isaac lived at Beerlahairoi.
12 These are the children and their children’s children of Abraham’s son Ishmael, who was born to Abraham and Hagar, who was Sarah’s woman servant. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, the names of the first-born to the last: Nebaioth, Ishmael’s first-born, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their towns and by their groups of tents, twelve rulers and their families.
17 Ishmael lived 137 years. Then he breathed his last and died, and was buried with his people. 18 His people lived from Havilah as far as Shur, east of Egypt on the way toward Assyria. He lived away from all his brothers.
The Birth of Esau and Jacob
19 These are the children and their children’s children of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham was the father of Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, and the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she could not give birth and the Lord answered him. Rebekah was able to give birth. 22 But the babies within her fought together. And she said, “If this is so, why am I like this?” She went to ask the Lord why. 23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are within you. Two peoples will be divided from your body. One will be stronger than the other. And the older will serve the younger.”
24 When the day came for her to give birth, there were two babies to be born. 25 The first to come out was red and he had hair all over his body. They gave him the name of Esau. 26 Then the brother was born. His hand was holding Esau’s heel. So he was given the name of Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.
Esau Sells His Birth-Right
27 When the boys grew older, Esau became a good hunter, a man of the field. But Jacob was a man of peace, living in tents. 28 Isaac showed favor to Esau, because he liked to eat the meat of the animals Esau killed. But Rebekah showed favor to Jacob.
29 As Jacob was getting food ready one day, Esau came in from the field and was very hungry. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red meat, for I am very hungry.” That is why his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First, sell me your birth-right.” 32 Esau said, “See, I am about to die. So what good is my birth-right to me?” 33 Jacob said, “First give me your promise.” So Esau promised, and sold his birth-right to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and vegetables, and Esau ate and drank. Then Esau stood up and went on his way. So Esau hated his birth-right.
Jesus Tells of the House of God (A)
24 Jesus went out of the house of God. On the way His followers came to Him to show Him the buildings of the house of God. 2 Jesus said to them, “Do you see all these things? For sure, I tell you, all these stones will be thrown down. Not one will be left standing on another.”
Jesus Teaches on the Mount of Olives
3 Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to Him when He was alone and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What can we look for to show us of Your coming and of the end of the world?”
4 Jesus said to them, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way. 5 Many people will come using My name. They will say, ‘I am Christ.’ They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. 6 You will hear of wars and lots of talk about wars, but do not be afraid. These things must happen, but it is not the end yet. 7 Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. There will be no food for people. The earth will shake and break apart in different places. 8 These things are the beginning of sorrows and pains.
9 “Then they will hand you over to be hurt. They will kill you. You will be hated by all the world because of My name. 10 Many people will give up and turn away at this time. People will hand over each other. They will hate each other. 11 Many false religious teachers will come. They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. 12 Because of people breaking the laws and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many people will become cold. 13 But the one who stays true to the end will be saved.
14 “This Good News about the holy nation of God must be preached over all the earth. It must be told to all nations and then the end will come.
Days of Trouble and Pain and Sorrow
15 “You will see a sinful man-made god standing in the house of God in Jerusalem. It was spoken of by the early preacher Daniel. (B) The one who reads this should understand it. 16 Then those in the country of Judea should run to the mountains. 17 The man who is on the top of his house should not come down to take anything out of his house. 18 The man who is in the field should not go back to get his coat. 19 It will be hard for a woman who will soon be a mother. It will be hard for the ones feeding babies in those days! 20 Pray that you will not have to go in the winter or on the Day of Rest. 21 In those days there will be very much trouble and pain and sorrow. It has never been this bad from the beginning of the world and never will be again. 22 If the time had not been made short, no life would have been saved. Because of God’s people, the time will be made short.
The False Religious Teachers
23 “If anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24 People who say they are Christ and false preachers will come. They will do special things for people to see. They will do great things, so that if it can be done, God’s people will be fooled to believe something wrong. 25 Listen! I have told you before it comes. 26 If they tell you, ‘See! He is in the desert,’ do not go to see. Or if they say, ‘See! He is in the inside room,’ do not believe them. 27 The Son of Man will come as fast as lightning shines across the sky from east to west. 28 Birds gather wherever there is a dead body.
Jesus Will Come Again in His Shining-Greatness
29 “As soon as those days of trouble and pain and sorrow are over, the sun will get dark. The moon will not give light. The stars will fall from the sky. The powers in the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then something special will be seen in the sky telling of the Son of Man. All nations of the earth will have sorrow. They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the sky with power and shining-greatness. 31 He will send His angels with the loud sound of a horn. They will gather God’s people together from the four winds. They will come from one end of the heavens to the other.
The Picture-Story of the Fig Tree
32 “Now learn something from the fig tree. When the branch begins to grow and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things happen, you know the Son of Man is near, even at the door. 34 For sure, I tell you, the people of this day will not pass away before all these things have happened.
No One Knows When Jesus Will Come Again
35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 36 But no one knows the day or the hour. No! Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man comes, it will be the same as when Noah lived. 38 In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking. They were marrying and being given in marriage. This kept on until the day Noah went into the large boat. 39 They did not know what was happening until the flood came and the water carried them all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working in a field. One will be taken and the other will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain. One will be taken and the other will be left.
42 “Because of this, watch! You do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: If the owner of a house had known when the robber was coming, he would have watched. He would not have allowed his house to have been broken into. 44 You must be ready also. The Son of Man is coming at a time when you do not think He will come.
Faithful Servants and Servants Who Are Not Faithful
45 “Who is the faithful and wise servant whom his owner has made boss over the other servants? He is to have food ready for them at the right time. 46 That servant is happy who is doing what his owner wants him to do when he comes back. 47 For sure, I tell you, he will make him boss over all that he has. 48 But if that servant is bad, he will think, ‘The owner will not come soon.’ 49 He will beat the others. He will eat and drink with those who are drunk. 50 The owner will come on a day and at an hour when the servant is not looking for him. 51 The owner will punish the servant and will give him his place with those who pretend to be someone they are not. There will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.
1 This is what happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who ruled over 127 parts of the nation from India to Ethiopia. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus sat on the king’s throne in the city of Susa. 3 In the third year of his rule, he gave a special supper for all his princes and leaders. The army captains of Persia and Media, the important men and princes of the many parts of the country were there with him. 4 For 180 days he showed the great riches and honor and power that were his as king of the nation. 5 When all the days were over, the king gave a supper lasting seven days for all the people from the greatest to the least who were in the city of Susa where he ruled. The supper was given in the open space of the garden of the king’s special house. 6 There were curtains of fine white and blue linen held by ropes of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble pillars. There were seats of gold and silver on a floor made of small glass-like pieces, marble, mother-of-pearl, and stones of much worth. 7 Drinks were served in different kinds of gold cups, and there was much wine, because the king was very able and willing to give it. 8 Drinking was done by the law. No one was made to drink. The king had told all the workmen of his house that they should give each person what he wanted. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a special supper for the women in the beautiful house that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day the heart of the king was happy with wine. And he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven servants who served King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti to the king with her crown. He wanted to show her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti would not come when the king sent his servants to bring her. So the king became very angry and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times. For it was the king’s way to speak with all who knew law and what was right and fair. 14 These men next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media. They were allowed to visit with the king and were next to the king in the nation. 15 He asked them, “By the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey what King Ahasuerus sent the servants to tell her?” 16 Then Memucan said in front of the king and the princes, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king, but to all the princes and all the people in the lands of King Ahasuerus. 17 For what the queen has done will become known to all the women, and will make them hate their husbands. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus told Queen Vashti to be brought to him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard what the queen has done will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes. And there will be much hate and anger. 19 If it pleases the king, let word be sent by him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media which cannot be changed, that Vashti should not come again to King Ahasuerus. Let the king give the place of queen to another who is better than she. 20 Then the king’s word will be heard through all his great nation, and all women will give honor to their husbands, from the greatest to the least.” 21 What was said pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan said. 22 So he sent letters to all parts of the king’s nation, to each land in its own writing and to every people in their own language. The letters said that every man should rule in his own house and speak there in the language of his own people.
Paul Stands in Front of Felix
24 Five days later Ananias came to the city of Caesarea. He was the head religious leader. Some other religious leaders and a man whose name was Tertullus came also. This man worked in courts and knew all about the laws. He told Felix what the Jews had against Paul. 2 They brought in Paul. Then Tertullus started to tell what the Jews had against him, saying,
“Most respected Felix, because of you, we are living in peace. Wrong-doings have been made right in this nation. 3 In every way and in every place, we thank you for all of this. 4 We do not want to keep you here too long. I ask you to listen to our few words. You are known to be kind in this way. 5 We have found this man to be a trouble-maker among all the Jews in the world. He is a leader of a religious group called the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to make the house of God unclean by taking people into it who were not Jews. But we took hold of him. (*We could have said he was guilty by our Law. 7 But Lysias, the captain, came and took him out of our hands. 8 He told those who wanted to kill him to tell you what they had against him.) When you ask him about these things, you will be able to learn everything we have against him.” 9 The Jews agreed to what he said against Paul.
Paul Speaks for Himself the First Time
10 Then Felix, the leader of the people, told Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know that you have been a leader of this nation for many years. I am happy to be able to speak for myself. 11 Not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. You can find out about this yourself. 12 I did not argue with anyone in the house of God or in the Jewish places of worship or in the city. I was not making trouble. 13 They cannot prove any of these things they say against me.
14 “I will say this, I worship the God of our fathers in the new Way. They say it is a false way. But I believe everything that has been written in the Law and by the early preachers. 15 I trust God for the same things they are looking for. I am looking for the dead to rise, both those right with God and the sinful. 16 I always try to live so my own heart tells me I am not guilty before God or man.
17 “After a few years I came to bring gifts of money to the people of my country (Jerusalem). 18 Some Jews from the countries of Asia found me in the house of God after I had gone through the worship of washing. There were no people around me and there was no noise or fighting. 19 They should be here if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men tell what wrong they found in me as I stood in front of their court, 21 unless it was the words I cried out as I stood in front of them. I said, ‘I have been brought in front of this court because of the hope of being raised from the dead.’”
Felix Waits for Lysias to Come
22 Felix knew about the Christian religion. He stopped the court, saying, “When Lysias the captain comes down, I will decide about this.” 23 He told the soldier to watch Paul, but to let him come and go as much as he wanted to. Paul’s friends were to be able to come and care for him.
Paul Speaks for Himself the Second Time
24 Some days later Felix came again. His Jewish wife Drusilla was with him. He sent for Paul and heard him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Paul spoke about being right with God. He spoke about being the boss over our own desires. He spoke about standing before One Who will tell us if we are guilty. When Felix heard this, he became afraid and said, “Go now. I will send for you when it is a better time.” 26 He was hoping that Paul would give him money so he could go free. For that reason he kept sending for Paul and talking to him.
27 After two years Porcius Festus became leader of the people instead of Felix. Felix wanted to please the Jews so he kept Paul in prison.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.