M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 10

Tola. ¹ After Abimelech, Tola,^[a] son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, rose up to save Israel; he lived in Shamir in the mountain region of Ephraim. ² When he had judged Israel twenty-three years, he died and was buried in Shamir.

Jair. ³ Jair the Gileadite came after him and judged Israel twenty-two years. ^4 (A)He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys^[b] and possessed thirty cities in the land of Gilead (these are called Havvoth-jair to the present day).^{(B) 5} Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Oppression by the Ammonites. ^6 (C)The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, serving the Baals and Ashtarts, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. Since they had abandoned the Lord and would not serve him, ⁷ the Lord became angry with Israel and he sold them into the power of the Philistines and the Ammonites. ⁸ For eighteen years they afflicted and oppressed the Israelites in Bashan, and all the Israelites in the Amorite land beyond the Jordan in Gilead. ⁹ The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was in great distress.

^10 (D)Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, for we have abandoned our God and served the Baals.” ^11 (E)The Lord answered the Israelites: Did not the Egyptians, the Amorites,^(F) the Ammonites, the Philistines, ¹² the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Midianites^(G) oppress you? Yet when you cried out to me, and I saved you from their power, ¹³ you still abandoned me and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more.^{(H) 14} Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen; let them save you in your time of distress. ¹⁵ But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever is good in your sight. Only deliver us this day!” ¹⁶ And they cast out the foreign gods from their midst and served the Lord, so that he grieved over the misery of Israel.

¹⁷ The Ammonites were called out for war and encamped in Gilead, while the Israelites assembled and encamped at Mizpah. ¹⁸ The captains of the army of Gilead said to one another, “The one who begins the war against the Ammonites shall be leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”^(I)

Chapter 11

Jephthah. ¹ Jephthah^(J) the Gileadite was a warrior. He was the son of a prostitute, fathered by Gilead. ² Gilead’s wife had also borne him sons. When they grew up the sons of the wife had driven Jephthah away, saying to him, “You shall inherit nothing in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” ³ So Jephthah had fled from his brothers and taken up residence in the land of Tob.^(K) Worthless men had joined company with him, and went out with him on raids.^(L)

⁴ Some time later, the Ammonites went to war with Israel. ⁵ As soon as the Ammonites were at war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob. ⁶ “Come,” they said to Jephthah, “be our commander so that we can fight the Ammonites.” ⁷ “Are you not the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house?” Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Why do you come to me now, when you are in distress?” ^8 (M)The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “This is the reason we have come back to you now: if you go with us to fight against the Ammonites, you shall be the leader of all of the inhabitants of Gilead.” ⁹ Jephthah answered the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight against the Ammonites and the Lord delivers them up to me, I will be your leader.” ¹⁰ The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord is witness between us that we will do as you say.” ¹¹ So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the army made him their leader and commander. Jephthah gave all his orders in the presence of the Lord in Mizpah.

Chapter 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium. ¹ In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue together and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks came to believe, ² although the disbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. ³ So they stayed for a considerable period, speaking out boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the word about his grace by granting signs and wonders to occur through their hands.^{(A) 4} The people of the city were divided: some were with the Jews; others, with the apostles. ⁵ When there was an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone them,^{(B) 6} they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, ⁷ where they continued to proclaim the good news.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra. ^8 [a]At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, ¹⁰ and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about. ¹¹ When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.”^{(C) 12} They called Barnabas “Zeus”^[b] and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

¹⁴ The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments^[c] when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ^15 [d]“Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, ‘who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.’^{(D) 16} In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;^{(E) 17} yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”^{(F) 18} Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

^19 (G)However, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰ But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

End of the First Mission. ²¹ After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. ²² They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”^{(H) 23} They appointed presbyters^[e] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. ²⁴ Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. ²⁵ After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished.^{(I) 27} And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

Chapter 23

A Just Shepherd.^{[a] 1 (A)}Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture—oracle of the Lord. ² Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.^{(B) 3} I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have banished them and bring them back to their folds; there they shall be fruitful and multiply.^{(C) 4} I will raise up shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear or be terrified; none shall be missing—oracle of the Lord.^(D)

^7 (G)Therefore, the days are coming—oracle of the Lord—when they shall no longer say, “As the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt”; ⁸ but rather, “As the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north”—and from all the lands to which I banished them; they shall again live on their own soil.

The False Prophets^[b]

¹⁵ Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts against the prophets:

²⁵ I have heard the prophets who prophesy lies in my name say, “I had a dream! I had a dream!” ²⁶ How long? Will the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies and their own deceitful fancies ever turn back? ²⁷ By the dreams they tell each other, they plan to make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal.^{(T) 28} Let the prophets who have dreams tell their dreams; let those who have my word speak my word truthfully!

³⁰ Therefore I am against the prophets—oracle of the Lord—those who steal my words from each other.^{(V) 31} Yes, I am against the prophets—oracle of the Lord—those who compose their own speeches and call them oracles. ³² Yes, I am against the prophets who tell lying dreams—oracle of the Lord—those who lead my people astray by recounting their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them; they do this people no good at all—oracle of the Lord.^(W)

^33 [g]And when this people or a prophet or a priest asks you, “What is the burden of the Lord?” you shall answer, “You are the burden, and I cast you off”—oracle of the Lord. ³⁴ If a prophet or a priest or anyone else mentions “the burden of the Lord,” I will punish that man and his household. ³⁵ Thus you shall ask, when speaking to one another, “What answer did the Lord give?” or “What did the Lord say?” ³⁶ But “the burden of the Lord” you shall mention no more. For each of you, your own word becomes the burden so that you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. ³⁷ Thus shall you ask the prophet, “What answer did the Lord give?” or “What did the Lord say?” ³⁸ But if you ask about “the burden of the Lord,” then thus says the Lord: Because you use this phrase, “the burden of the Lord,” though I forbade you to use it, ³⁹ therefore I will lift you on high and cast you from my presence, you and the city which I gave to you and your ancestors. ⁴⁰ And I will bring upon you eternal reproach, eternal shame, never to be forgotten.^(X)

Chapter 9

^1 [a](A)He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.”

The Transfiguration of Jesus.^{[b] 2} After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.^(B) And he was transfigured before them, ³ and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. ⁴ Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. ^5 [c]Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. ⁷ Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;^[d] then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” ⁸ Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.

The Coming of Elijah.^{[e] 9} As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.^{(C) 10} So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. ^11 (D)Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹² He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”^(E)

The Healing of a Boy with a Demon.^{[f] 14} When they came to the disciples,^(F) they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. ¹⁸ Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” ¹⁹ He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. ²¹ Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. ²² It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³ Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” ²⁴ Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” ²⁵ Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” ²⁶ Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. ²⁸ When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” ^29 [g]He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

The Second Prediction of the Passion. ^30 (G)They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.^{(H) 31} He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

IV. The Full Revelation of the Mystery

The Greatest in the Kingdom.^{[h] 33} They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(I) 34} But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. ³⁵ Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”^{(J) 36} Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”^(K)

Another Exorcist.^{[i] 38} John said to him,^(L) “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” ³⁹ Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(M) 41} Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.^(N)

Temptations to Sin. ^42 (O)“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna,^[j] into the unquenchable fire. [⁴⁴ ]^{[k] 45} And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. [⁴⁶ ] ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, ⁴⁸ where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’^(P)

The Simile of Salt. ^49 [l]“Everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”^(Q)