M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Of the Galileans whom Pilate slew, and of those that died in Siloam. The similitude of the fig tree. Christ heals the sick woman. The parables of the mustard seed and leaven. Few enter into the kingdom. Christ reproves Herod and Jerusalem.

13 There were present at that same time people who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their own sacrifice. ² And Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such punishment? ³ I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them, do you think they were sinners above all who dwell in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

⁶ He put forth this similitude: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit on it, and found none. ⁷ Then he said to the dresser of his vineyard, Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. Why is it taking up space on the ground? ⁸ And he answered and said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I dig round about it and dung it to see whether it will bear fruit. ⁹ And if it does not bear then, after that cut it down.

¹⁰ And he taught in one of their synagogues on the Sabbath days. ¹¹ And behold, there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and was stooped over, and could not lift herself up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, Woman, you are delivered from your disease. ¹³ And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. ¹⁴ But the leader of the synagogue responded with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and he said to the people, There are six days in which men ought to work; in them come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.

¹⁵ Then the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrite, does not each one of you on the Sabbath day loose his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it to the water? ¹⁶ And ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound now eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?

¹⁷ And when he said this, all his adversaries were ashamed. But all the people rejoiced for all the tremendous deeds that were done by him.

¹⁸ Then he said, What is the kingdom of God like? or to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ Is is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew, and developed into a great tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.

²⁰ And again he said, To what may I liken the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three bushels of flour until it was leavened right through.

²² And he went through all manner of cities and towns, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem.

²³ Then someone said to him, Lord, are there few that will be saved?

And he said to them, ²⁴ Strive with yourselves to enter in at the strait gate. For many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able. ²⁵ When the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door to, you all will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! And he will answer and say to you, I know you not, where you are from. ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets. ²⁷ And he will say, I tell you, I do not know you, where you are from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!

²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out at the doors. ²⁹ And people will come from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the south, and will sit down in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And behold, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.

³¹ That same day, certain of the Pharisees came and said to him, Get yourself out of the way, and depart from here, because Herod wants to kill you. ³² And he said to them, Go and tell that fox, behold, I cast out devils and heal the people today and tomorrow, and the third day I make an end of it. ³³ Nevertheless, I must be going on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish anywhere other than at Jerusalem.

³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, like the hen gathers her nest under her wings! But you would not. ³⁵ Behold, your habitation shall be left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes that you say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

Paul shows that the gift of prophecy (that is, of interpreting or preaching) excels the gift of languages, and how they both ought to be used.

14 Labour for love, and covet spiritual gifts, and most chiefly to prophesy. ² For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people, but to God, for no one understands him. However, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks to people, for edifying, for exhortation, and for comfort. ⁴ He who speaks in an unknown tongue, profits himself; he who prophesies, edifies the congregation.

⁵ I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues – unless he expounds it also, so that the congregation may have edifying. ⁶ Now brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by instruction?

⁷ Moreover, when things without life give sound, whether it be a pipe or a harp, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how can it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ And also, if the trumpet gives an uncertain call, who will prepare himself to fight? ⁹ So also likewise, when you speak with tongues, unless you speak words that have meaning, how can it be understood what is spoken? For you will be but speaking in the air.

¹⁰ Many kinds of voices are in the world, and none of them are without signification. ¹¹ If I do not know what the voice means, I will be as a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² So then, since you covet spiritual gifts, seek to have them in plenty for the edifying of the congregation.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray such that he may interpret also. ¹⁴ If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding brings no one fruit. ¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and will pray with the meaning also. I will sing with the spirit, and will sing with the meaning also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, when you bless with the spirit, how can the person who is unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷ You give thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸ I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than you all, ¹⁹ yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my meaning for the information of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰ Brethren, do not be children in understanding. As concerning evil, be children, but in understanding be mature. ²¹ In the law it is written: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and yet for all that, they will not hear me, says the Lord. ²² Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who believe not. On the other hand, prophesying serves not for those who don’t believe, but for those who believe.

²³ If, therefore, when all the congregation has come together and all speak with tongues, there come in people who are unlearned, or those who do not believe, will they not say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴ But if all prophesy and there comes in one who does not believe, or one unlearned, he is convicted by everyone, and is judged by everyone. ²⁵ And in this way the secrets of his heart are opened, and so he falls down on his face and worships God, and says that God is with you indeed.

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? When you come together, each one has his song, has his word, has his tongue, has his revelation, has his interpretation. Let all things be done for edifying. ²⁷ If any man speaks with tongues, let it be two in all, or at the most three in all, and that by turn; and let another interpret it. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the congregation, and let him speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Let the prophets speak two in all, or three in all, and let the others judge. ³⁰ If any revelation is made to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace. ³¹ For you may all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may have comfort. ³² For the spirits of the prophets are in the control of the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as he is in all other congregations of the saints.

³⁴ Let your wives keep silence in the congregations. For it is not permitted to them to speak, but let them be under obedience, as the law says. ³⁵ If they wish to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is unseemly for women to speak in the congregation.

³⁶ Did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you only? ³⁷ If anyone thinks himself a prophet, or spiritual, let him understand the things I write to you. For they are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹ And so, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰ And let all things be done decently and in order.