M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Jacob Leaves Laban

31 Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that our father had. He has become rich with what had belonged to our father.” ² Jacob saw that Laban did not show him as much favor as he did before. ³ Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to those of your family. And I will be with you.”

⁴ So Jacob called Rachel and Leah to come to his flock in the field. ⁵ He said to them, “I see that your father does not show me as much favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ You know that I have worked for your father with all my strength. ⁷ Yet your father has not been fair with me. He has changed my pay ten times. But God did not let him hurt me. ⁸ If he said, ‘The animals that have spots will be your pay,’ then all the flock gave birth to young ones with spots. If he said, ‘The animals with black marks will be your pay,’ then all the flock gave birth to young ones with black marks. ⁹ So God has taken away your father’s animals and has given them to me. ¹⁰ I had a dream at the time the flocks were mating. I looked up and saw that the male goats which were mating with the female goats had black marks and spots. ¹¹ Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ ¹² He said, ‘Look and see how all the male goats that are mating with the others have black marks and spots. For I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. ¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you set up a stone in honor to Me, and where you made a promise to Me. Now get up, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”

¹⁴ Rachel and Leah answered him, “Do we still have any part or share in our father’s house? ¹⁵ Does he not think of us as strangers? For he has sold us. And he has used all the money that was paid for us. ¹⁶ All the riches that God has taken away from our father belong to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you to do.”

¹⁷ Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels. ¹⁸ He took away all his animals, all the riches he had gathered and all the cattle he had gathered in Paddan-aram. And he left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. ¹⁹ Laban had gone to cut the wool from his flock. And Rachel stole the gods of her father’s house. ²⁰ Jacob fooled Laban the Syrian by not telling him that he was going. ²¹ So he left with all he had. He went and crossed the Euphrates River, and turned toward the hill country of Gilead.

Laban Follows after Jacob

²² But Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had gone. ²³ So he took the men of his family with him, and followed Jacob for seven days. He found him in the hill country of Gilead. ²⁴ But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night. He said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak good or bad to Jacob.”

²⁵ Then Laban came to Jacob. Now Jacob had put up his tent in the hill country. Laban and the men of his family put up their tents in the hill country of Gilead. ²⁶ Laban said to Jacob, “What do you mean by fooling me and carrying away my daughters as if they were taken by the sword? ²⁷ Why did you leave in secret and fool me? Why did you not tell me, so I would have sent you away with joy and with songs and with sounds of joy on the timbrel and harp. ²⁸ Why did you not let me kiss my grandchildren and daughters good-bye? Now you have been foolish. ²⁹ I have the power to hurt you. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak good or bad to Jacob.’ ³⁰ Now you have gone away because you had a desire for your father’s house. But why did you steal my gods?”

³¹ Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid you might take your daughters from me and make them stay. ³² The one with whom you find your gods will not live. In front of those of our family, look for what I have that is yours, and take it.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

³³ So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two women who served Rachel and Leah. But he did not find his gods. Then he went from Leah’s tent into Rachel’s tent. ³⁴ Now Rachel had taken the gods of Laban’s house and put them in the seat that was used on the camel’s back. And she sat upon them. Laban looked through the whole tent, but did not find them. ³⁵ She said to her father, “My lord, do not be angry that I cannot rise in front of you. For the way of women is upon me.” So he looked, but could not find the gods.

³⁶ Then Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What have I done wrong? What is my sin that made you run after me? ³⁷ What things of your house have you found by looking through all that belongs to me? Set it here in front of my brothers and your brothers, so they may judge between us. ³⁸ During these twenty years I have been with you, your female goats and sheep have not lost a young one. And I have not eaten the sheep of your flocks. ³⁹ I did not bring to you those that were torn by wild animals. I took the loss upon myself. You had me pay for what was carried away during the day or during the night. ⁴⁰ This is the way it was for me. I suffered from heat during the day, and from cold during the night. And I could not sleep. ⁴¹ I have been in your house twenty years. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock. And you changed my pay ten times. ⁴² If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had not been with me, for sure you would have sent me away with nothing. God has seen my suffering and the work of my hands. So He spoke sharp words to you last night.”

⁴³ Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters. The children are my children. And the flocks are my flocks. All that you see is mine. But what can I do today to these my daughters or to their children who were born to them? ⁴⁴ So come now, let us make an agreement, you and I. And let us do something to show we have an agreement between us.”

⁴⁵ So Jacob took a stone and set it up in honor of the agreement. ⁴⁶ Then Jacob said to the men of his family, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and put them on top of each other. And they ate there by all the stones. ⁴⁷ Laban gave the stones the name of Jegar-sahadutha. But Jacob gave them the name Galeed. ⁴⁸ Laban said, “These stones are to stand for the agreement between you and me today.” So they were given the name Galeed. ⁴⁹ They were given the name of Mizpah also. For Laban said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are apart from each other. ⁵⁰ If you hurt my daughters, or if you take wives other than my daughters, no man may see it. But God sees what happens between you and me.” ⁵¹ Laban said to Jacob, “See these stones that have been set up between you and me. ⁵² These stones that have been set up will stand for our agreement. I will not pass by these stones to hurt you. And you will not pass by these stones to hurt me. ⁵³ The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob promised by the fear of his father Isaac. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob gave a gift in worship to God on the mountain. Then he called his brothers to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed the night on the mountain.

⁵⁵ Laban got up early in the morning and kissed his grandchildren and daughters. He prayed that good would come to them. Then Laban left and returned home.

Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Let Down through the Roof of a House ^(A)

2 After some days Jesus went back to the city of Capernaum. Then news got around that He was home. ² Soon many people gathered there. There was no more room, not even at the door. He spoke the Word of God to them. ³ Four men came to Jesus carrying a man who could not move his body. ⁴ These men could not get near Jesus because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof of the house over where Jesus stood. Then they let down the bed with the sick man on it.

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Some teachers of the Law were sitting there. They thought to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this Man talk like this? He is speaking as if He is God! Who can forgive sins? Only One can forgive sins and that is God!”

⁸ At once Jesus knew the teachers of the Law were thinking this. He said to them, “Why do you think this in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier to say to the sick man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your bed, and start to walk?’ ¹⁰ I am doing this so you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” He said to the sick man who could not move his body, ¹¹ “I say to you, ‘Get up. Take your bed and go to your home.’” ¹² At once the sick man got up and took his bed and went away. Everybody saw him. They were all surprised and wondered about it. They thanked God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Jesus Calls Matthew ^(B)

¹³ Jesus walked along the sea-shore again. Many people came together and He taught them. ¹⁴ He walked farther and saw Levi (Matthew) the son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at his work gathering taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Levi got up and followed Him.

Jesus Eats with Tax-Gatherers and Sinners

¹⁵ Jesus ate in Levi’s house. Many men who gather taxes and others who were sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His followers. There were many following Him. ¹⁶ The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers saw Jesus eat with men who gather taxes and others who were sinners. They said to His followers, “Why does He eat and drink with men who gather taxes and with sinners?” ¹⁷ Jesus heard it and said to them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Only those who are sick need a doctor. I have not come to call those who are right with God. I have come to call those who are sinners.”

Jesus Teaches about Going without Food So You Can Pray Better ^(C)

¹⁸ The followers of John and the proud religious law-keepers were not eating food so they could pray better. Some people came to Jesus and said, “Why do the followers of John and the proud religious law-keepers go without food so they can pray better, but Your followers do not?” ¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “Can the friends at a wedding go without food when the man just married is with them? As long as they have him with them, they will not go without food. ²⁰ The days will come when the man just married will be taken from them. Then they will not eat food so they can pray better. ²¹ No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat. If it comes off, it will make the hole bigger. ²² No man puts new wine into old skin bags. The skin would break and the wine would run out. The bags would be no good. New wine must be put into new skin bags.”

Jesus Teaches about the Day of Rest ^(D)

²³ At that time Jesus walked through the grain-fields on the Day of Rest. As they went, His followers began to take some of the grain. ²⁴ The proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, “See! Why are they doing what the Law says should not be done on the Day of Rest?” ²⁵ He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry? ²⁶ He went into the house of God when Abiathar was head religious leader of the Jews. He ate the special bread used in the religious worship. The Law says only the Jewish religious leaders may eat that. David gave some to those who were with him also.” ²⁷ Jesus said to them, “The Day of Rest was made for the good of man. Man was not made for the Day of Rest. ²⁸ The Son of Man is Lord of the Day of Rest also.”

Haman Is Put to Death

7 So the king and Haman came to eat with Esther the queen. ² And the king said again to Esther on the second day, as they drank their wine at the special supper, “What do you want to ask of me, Queen Esther? It will be done for you. What do you want? You would be given as much as half the nation.” ³ Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it please the king, I ask that my life and the lives of my people be saved. ⁴ For I and my people have been sold, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be done away with. If we had only been sold as men and women servants, I would have kept quiet. For our trouble is not to be compared with the trouble it will make for the king.” ⁵ Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would do such a thing?” ⁶ Esther said, “This sinful Haman hates us very much!” Then Haman was very afraid in front of the king and queen. ⁷ The king got up from drinking the wine very angry, and went into his garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther. He knew that the king planned to punish him. ⁸ When the king returned from his garden to the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the bed-like seat where Esther was lying. Then the king said, “Will he even trouble the queen while I am in the house?” As the king spoke the words, they covered Haman’s face. ⁹ Then Harbonah, one of the king’s servants helping the king, said, “See, there is a tower made for hanging people at Haman’s house, thirteen times taller than a man. Haman had it made for hanging Mordecai who spoke good and helped the king!” And the king said, “Hang Haman on it.” ¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the tower that he had made for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger became less.

2 So you can say nothing because you are guilty when you say someone else is guilty. While you say someone is guilty, you are doing the same things he does. ² We know that God will say those who do such things are guilty. ³ Do you think God will punish others for doing wrong and let you keep sinning? ⁴ Do you forget about His loving-kindness to you? Do you forget how long He is waiting for you? You know that God is kind. He is trying to get you to be sorry for your sins and turn from them. ⁵ Because you are not sorry for your sins and will not turn from them, you will be punished even more on the day of God’s anger. God will be right in saying you are guilty. ⁶ He will give to every man what he should get for the things he has done. ⁷ Those who keep on doing good and are looking for His greatness and honor will receive life that lasts forever. ⁸ Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them. ⁹ Every Jew and every person who is not a Jew who sins will suffer and have great sorrow. ¹⁰ But God will give His greatness and honor and peace to all those who obey the truth. Both Jews and those who are not Jews will receive this. ¹¹ God does not show favor to one man more than to another.

¹² Those who have sinned without having the Law will be lost without the Law being used. Those who have the Law and have sinned will be judged by the Law. ¹³ Just to hear the Law does not make a man right with God. The man right with God is the one who obeys the Law. ¹⁴ The people who are not Jews do not have the Law. When they do what the Law tells them to do, even if they do not have the Law, it shows they know what they should do. ¹⁵ They show that what the Law wants them to do is written in their hearts. Their own hearts tell them if they are guilty. ¹⁶ There will be a day when God will judge because He knows the secret thoughts of men. He will do this through Jesus Christ. This is part of the Good News I preach.

¹⁷ You are a Jew and think you are safe because of the Law. You tell others about how you know God. ¹⁸ You know what He wants you to do. You understand how the Law works. You know right from wrong. ¹⁹ You think you can lead a blind man. You think you can give light to those in darkness. ²⁰ You think you can teach foolish people and children about God. You have in the Law the plan of truth and wisdom. ²¹ You teach others. Why do you not teach yourselves? You tell others not to steal. Do you steal? ²² You say that no one should do sex sins. Do you do sex sins? You hate false gods. Do you rob the houses where they are kept? ²³ You are proud of the Law. Do you take honor away from God when you do not obey the Law? ²⁴ The Holy Writings say, “God’s name is hated by the people who are not Jews because of you.” ^(A)

²⁵ Going through the religious act of becoming a Jew is worth something if you obey the Law. If you do not obey the Law, it is worth nothing to you. ²⁶ If a person who is not a Jew and has not gone through the act of becoming a Jew, obeys the Law, God will think of him as a Jew. ²⁷ You Jews have the Law but do not obey it. You have gone through the religious act also. At the same time those who are not Jews obey the Law even if they have not gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew. In this way, these people show you are guilty. ²⁸ A man is not a Jew just because he goes through the religious act of becoming a Jew. ²⁹ The true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. The religious act of becoming a Jew must be done in the heart. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Law does not do that kind of work. The true Jew gets his thanks from God, not from men.