M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

The Birth of Samson

13 The people of Israel sinned in the eyes of the Lord again. So the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

² There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites. His name was Manoah. His wife was not able to have children. ³ Then the angel of the Lord came to the woman and said to her, “See, you have not been able to have any children. But the Lord will make it possible for you to have a child and you will give birth to a son. ⁴ So be careful not to drink wine or strong drink. Do not eat anything that is unclean. ⁵ You will have a child and give birth to a son. His hair must never be cut. Because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the time he is born. He will begin to take Israel away from the Philistines’ power.” ⁶ Then the woman came and told her husband. She said, “A man of God came to me. He looked like the angel of God, filling me with fear. I did not ask him where he came from. And he did not tell me his name. ⁷ But he said to me, ‘See, it will be possible for you to have a child and give birth to a son. Do not drink wine or strong drink or eat anything that is unclean. For the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the time he is born to the time he dies.’”

⁸ Then Manoah asked the Lord, saying, “O Lord, let the man of God whom You have sent come to us again. Let him teach us what to do for the boy who is to be born.” ⁹ God listened to Manoah. The angel of God came again to the woman while she was sitting in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. ¹⁰ So the woman ran to her husband in a hurry. She told him, “See, the man who came the other day has come to me again.” ¹¹ Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man he said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to the woman?” And he said, “I am.” ¹² Manoah said, “When your words come true, what will be the boy’s way of life? What should he do?” ¹³ The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Let the woman be careful to do all I have said. ¹⁴ She must not eat anything from the vine or drink wine or strong drink. She must not eat anything that is unclean. Let her obey all I have told her.”

¹⁵ Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We ask of you, stay with us. So we may get a young goat ready for you to eat.” ¹⁶ The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “I will stay, but I will not eat your food. But if you get a burnt gift ready, then give it to the Lord.” For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord. ¹⁷ Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name? So we may honor you when your words come true.” ¹⁸ But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name? It is a name of wonder.” ¹⁹ So Manoah took the young goat with the grain gift. And he gave it on the rock to the Lord. Then the Lord did powerful works while Manoah and his wife watched. ²⁰ For the fire went up from the altar toward heaven. And the angel of the Lord went up in the fire of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces on the ground. ²¹ The angel of the Lord did not show himself to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. ²² So Manoah said to his wife, “We will die for sure. For we have seen God.” ²³ But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had wanted to kill us, He would not have received a burnt gift and grain gift from us. He would not have shown us all these things, or let us hear these things.”

²⁴ Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew up and the Lord brought good to him. ²⁵ And the Spirit of the Lord began to work through him at the tents of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Paul and Silas Start a Church in Thessalonica

17 After Paul and Silas had gone through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the city of Thessalonica. The Jews had a place of worship there. ² Paul went in as he always did. They gathered together each Day of Rest for three weeks and he taught them from the Holy Writings. ³ He showed them that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. He said, “I preach this Jesus to you. He is the Christ.” ⁴ Some of them put their trust in Christ and followed Paul and Silas. There were many Greek people and some leading women who honored God among those who had become Christians.

The Jews Make It Hard for Paul and Silas

⁵ The Jews who did not put their trust in Christ became jealous. They took along some sinful men from the center of town where people gather and brought them out on the street. These angry men started all the people in the city to cry out with loud voices. They went to the house of Jason hoping to find Paul and Silas there and bring them out to the people. ⁶ But they did not find them there. Then they dragged Jason and some other Christians out in front of the leaders and cried out, “These men who have been making trouble over all the world have come here also. ⁷ And Jason has taken them in. They say there is another King called Jesus. They are working against the laws made by Caesar.”

⁸ When the people and city leaders heard this, they were troubled. ⁹ Then they made Jason and the others pay some money and let them go.

Paul and Silas Go to Berea

¹⁰ At once the Christians sent Paul and Silas away at night to the city of Berea. When they got there, they went to the Jewish place of worship. ¹¹ These Jews were more willing to understand than those in the city of Thessalonica. They were very glad to hear the Word of God, and they looked into the Holy Writings to see if those things were true. ¹² Many of them became Christians. Some of them were respected Greek women and men. ¹³ The Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching the Word of God in Berea. They went there and worked against the missionaries by talking to the people. ¹⁴ At once the Christians sent Paul away to the sea-shore. But Silas and Timothy stayed there.

Paul Preaches on Mars’ Hill in Athens

¹⁵ Those who took Paul brought him to the city of Athens. Paul sent word with them that Silas and Timothy should come to him as soon as they could. Then they left. ¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was troubled as he saw the whole city worshiping false gods. ¹⁷ He talked to the Jews and other people who were worshiping in the Jewish place of worship. Every day he talked with people who gathered in the center of town.

¹⁸ Some men from two different groups were arguing with Paul. The one group thought that men might as well get all the fun out of life that they can. The other group thought that wisdom alone makes men happy. Some of them said, “This man has lots of little things to talk about. They are not important. What is he trying to say?” Others said, “He preaches about strange gods.” It was because he preached of Jesus and of His being raised from the dead.

¹⁹ Then they took him to Mars’ Hill and said, “We want to hear of this new teaching of yours. ²⁰ Some of the things you are telling us are strange to our ears. We want to know what these things mean.” ²¹ The people of Athens and those visiting from far countries used all their time in talking or hearing some new thing. ²² Then Paul stood up on Mars’ Hill and said, “Men of Athens, I see how very religious you are in every way. ²³ As I was walking around and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar where you worship with the words written on it, TO THE GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN. You are worshiping Him without knowing Him. He is the One I will tell you about.

²⁴ “The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings made by hands. ²⁵ No one needs to care for Him as if He needed anything. He is the One who gives life and breath and everything to everyone. ²⁶ He made from one blood all nations who live on the earth. He set the times and places where they should live.

²⁷ “They were to look for God. Then they might feel after Him and find Him because He is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ It is in Him that we live and move and keep on living. Some of your own men have written, ‘We are God’s children.’ ²⁹ If we are God’s children, we should not think of Him as being like gold or silver or stone. Such gods made of gold or silver or stone are planned by men and are made by them.

³⁰ “God did not remember these times when people did not know better. But now He tells all men everywhere to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them. ³¹ He has set a day when He will say in the right way if the people of the world are guilty. This will be done by Jesus Christ, the One He has chosen. God has proven this to all men by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.”

³² Some people laughed and made fun when they heard Paul speak of Christ being raised from the dead. Others said, “We want to listen to you again about this.” ³³ So Paul went away from the people. ³⁴ Some people followed him and became Christians. One was Dionysius, a leader in the city. A woman named Damaris believed. And there were others also.

Jeremiah’s Trial

26 In the beginning of the rule of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, ² “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand in the open space of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house. Tell them all the words that I have told you to say to them. Do not leave out one word! ³ It may be they will listen and everyone will turn from his sinful way. Then I may change My mind about the trouble I plan to put on them because of the sinful things they have done.’ ⁴ And tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “If you will not listen to Me and follow My Law which I have set before you, ⁵ and if you do not listen to the words of My servants who speak for Me, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened, ⁶ then I will make this House of God like Shiloh. And I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

⁷ The religious leaders and the men of God and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸ And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had told him to speak to all the people, the religious leaders and men of God and all the people took hold of him, saying, “You must die! ⁹ Why have you spoken in the name of the Lord saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be laid waste with no one living in it’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

¹⁰ When the leaders of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat beside the New Gate of the Lord’s house. ¹¹ Then the religious leaders and men of God said to the leaders and to all the people, “This man must die! For he has spoken against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” ¹² Then Jeremiah said to all the leaders and to all the people, “The Lord sent me to speak against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. ¹³ So now change your ways and your works, and obey the voice of the Lord your God. Then the Lord will change His mind about the trouble He has said would come to you. ¹⁴ But as for me, see, I am in your hands. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes. ¹⁵ Only know for sure that if you put me to death, you will bring the sin of killing a man who is not guilty on yourselves, on this city, and on its people. For it is true that the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words for you to hear.”

¹⁶ Then the leaders and all the people said to the religious leaders and men of God, “No, this man should not be put to death! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” ¹⁷ Then some of the leaders of the land stood up and said to all the people who had gathered, ¹⁸ “Micah of Moresheth spoke in God’s name in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah. He said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of All has said: Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will be destroyed. And trees will cover the mountain where the Lord’s house is.’ ¹⁹ Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and pray for the Lord’s favor? And the Lord changed His mind about the trouble He had said would come to them. But we are about to bring a very bad thing on ourselves.”

²⁰ There was another man who spoke in the name of the Lord. He was Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He spoke against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. ²¹ When King Jehoiakim and all his powerful men and all his leaders heard his words, the king wanted to put Uriah to death. But Uriah heard about it, and he was afraid and ran away to Egypt. ²² Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him to Egypt. ²³ And they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword. Then he threw his dead body where most people are buried.

²⁴ But Ahikam the son of Shaphan helped Jeremiah, so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.

The Picture-Story of the Grape-Field ^(A)

12 Jesus began to teach them by using picture-stories, saying, “There was a man who planted grapes in a field. He put a fence around it and made a place for making wine. He built a tower to look over the field. Then he let farmers rent it and went into another country.

² “The time came for gathering the grapes. He sent his servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. ³ The farmers took him and beat him. They sent him back with nothing. ⁴ The owner sent another servant. The farmers threw stones at him and hit him on the head and did other bad things to him. ⁵ Again the owner sent another servant. The farmers killed that one. Many other servants were sent. They beat some and they killed others.

⁶ “He had a much-loved son to send yet. So last of all he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ The farmers said to themselves, ‘This is the one who will get everything when the owner dies. Let us kill him and we will get everything.’ ⁸ They took him and killed him. They threw his body outside the field. ⁹ What will the owner of the field do? He will come and kill the farmers. He will give the field to other farmers.

¹⁰ “Have you not read what the Holy Writings say? ‘The Stone that was put aside by the workmen has become the most important Stone in the corner of the building. ¹¹ The Lord has done this. It is great in our eyes.’” ^{(B) 12} The leaders wanted to take Him but they were afraid of the people. They knew He had told the picture-story against them. They left Him and went away.

They Try to Trap Jesus ^(C)

¹³ Some of the proud religious law-keepers and Herod’s men were sent to trap Jesus in His talk. ¹⁴ They came to Him and said, “Teacher, we know You are true. We know You are not afraid of what men think or say about You. You teach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay or not pay?” Jesus knew how they pretended to be someone they were not. He said to them, “Why do you try to trap Me? Bring Me a small piece of money so I may look at it.” ¹⁶ They brought Him one. He asked them, “Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” They were surprised and wondered at Him.

They Ask about Being Raised from the Dead ^(D)

¹⁸ Some people from the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Jesus. They asked Him, ¹⁹ “Teacher, Moses gave us a Law. It said, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves his wife behind, but no children, then his brother should marry his wife and raise children for his brother.’ ^{(E) 20} There were seven brothers. The first was married. He died before he had any children. ²¹ The second married her and died. He had no children. The same happened with the third. ²² All seven had her for a wife. All died without children. Last of all the woman died. ²³ When people are raised from the dead, whose wife will she be? All seven had her for a wife.” ²⁴ Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you do not know the Holy Writings or the power of God? ²⁵ When people are raised from the dead, they do not marry and are not given in marriage. They are like angels in heaven. ²⁶ As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses how God spoke to him in the burning bush? He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ ^{(F) 27} He is not the God of the dead, He is the God of the living. So you are very much wrong.”

The Great Law ^(G)

²⁸ Then one of the teachers of the Law heard them arguing. He thought Jesus had spoken well. He asked Him, “Which Law is the greatest of all?” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “The greatest Law is this, ‘Listen, Jewish people, The Lord our God is one Lord! ³⁰ You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ^(H) This is the first Law.

³¹ “The second Law is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ ^(I) No other Law is greater than these.”

³² Then the teacher of the Law said, “Teacher, You have told the truth. There is one God. There is no other God but Him. ³³ A man should love Him with all his heart and with all his understanding. He should love Him with all his soul and with all his strength and love his neighbor as himself. This is more important than to bring animals to be burned on the altar or to give God other gifts on the altar in worship.” ³⁴ Jesus saw he had spoken with understanding. He said to him, “You are not far from the holy nation of God.” After that no one thought they could ask Him anything.

Jesus Asks the Proud Religious Law-Keepers about the Christ ^(J)

³⁵ Jesus was in the house of God teaching. He asked, “How do the teachers of the Law say that Christ is the Son of David? ³⁶ For David himself, led by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right side until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.’ ^{(K) 37} David himself calls Him Lord. Then how can He be his son?” Many people were glad to hear Him.

False Teachers ^(L)

³⁸ Jesus taught them, saying, “Look out for the teachers of the Law. They like to walk around in long coats. They like to have the respect of men as they stand in the center of town where people gather. ³⁹ They like to have the important seats in the places of worship and the important places at big suppers. ⁴⁰ They take houses from poor women whose husbands have died. They cover up the bad they do by saying long prayers. They will be punished all the more.”

The Woman Whose Husband Had Died Gave All She Had ^(M)

⁴¹ Jesus sat near the money box in the house of God. He watched the people putting in money. Many of them were rich and gave much money. ⁴² A poor woman whose husband had died came by and gave two very small pieces of money.

⁴³ Jesus called His followers to Him. He said, “For sure, I tell you, this poor woman whose husband has died has given more money than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave of that which was more than they needed for their own living. She is poor and yet she gave all she had, even what she needed for her own living.”