M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

The singular love of God toward us. How we in response ought to love one another.

3 Behold what love the Father has shown on us, that we should be called the children of God. Because of this, the world does not know you: because it does not know him. ² Dearly beloveds, now we are the children of God. And yet it does not appear what we will be. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

  ⁴ Whoever commits sin, commits unrighteousness also. For sin is unrighteousness. ⁵ And you know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. ⁶ As many as abide in him do not sin. Whoever sins has not seen him, neither has known him.

⁷ Babes, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. ⁸ He who commits sin is of the devil. For the devil has sinned since the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared: to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whosoever is born of God does not sin, for his seed remains in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. ¹⁰ In this are the children of God known, and the children of the devil. Whoever does not work righteousness is not of God, neither he who does not love his brother.

¹¹ For this is the message that you heard from the beginning: that you should love one another – ¹² not like Cain, who was of the wicked one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s good.  ¹³ Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we are translated from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother, abides in death. ¹⁵ Whosoever hates his brother is a man-slayer. And you know that no man-slayer has eternal life abiding in him.

¹⁶ By this we perceive love: that he gave his life for us. And therefore we also ought to give our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?

¹⁸ My babes, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ For by this we know that we are of the truth, and can quiet our hearts before him. ²⁰ But if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloveds, if our hearts do not condemn us, then we have trust before God – ²² and whatever we ask, we shall receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

²³ And this is his commandment: that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment. ²⁴ And he who keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And by this we know that there abides in us of the Spirit that he gave us.

He teaches to be fervent in prayer continually. Of the Pharisee and the publican. The kingdom of God belongs to children. Christ answers the ruler, and promises reward to all who suffer loss for his sake and follow him. The blind man is restored to his sight.

18 And he put forth a similitude to them signifying that people ought always to pray, and not to be weary of it, ² saying, There was a judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor regarded man. And there was a certain widow in the same city, who came to him, ³ saying, Avenge me of my adversary! ⁴ And he would not for a while. But afterward he said to himself, Though I do not fear God or care about people, ⁵ yet because this widow is troubling me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out with nagging.

⁶ And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And will God not avenge his elect who cry day and night to him – yea, though he defer them? ⁸ I tell you, he will avenge them, and that quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, do you suppose he will find faith on the earth?

⁹ And he put forth this similitude to certain people who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers – or like this publican. ¹² I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³ But the publican stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. ¹⁴ I tell you, this man departed home to his house justified more than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be brought low, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

¹⁵ They brought to him also babes, so that he could touch them. When his disciples saw that, they rebuked the people. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to him and said, Allow the children to come to me, and do not forbid them. For of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child, he shall not enter therein.

¹⁸ And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what ought I to do to obtain eternal life? ¹⁹ Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? None is good, save God only. ²⁰ You know the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honour your father and your mother.

²¹ And he said, All these I have kept from my youth.

²² When Jesus heard that, he said to him, You lack yet one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, and follow me.

²³ When the man heard that, he was downcast, for he was very rich.

²⁴ When Jesus saw him grieve, he said, With what difficulty do those who have riches enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁶ Then said those who heard that, And who then can be saved? ²⁷ And he said, Things that are impossible with men, are possible with God.

²⁸ Then Peter said, Lo, we have left everything and have followed you. ²⁹ And he said to them, Truly I say to you, there is no man who leaves house, or father and mother, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, ³⁰ who will not receive much more in this world, and in the world to come, everlasting life.

³¹ He took the twelve and said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things will be fulfilled that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. ³² He will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, and will be despitefully abused, and will be spit upon. ³³ And when they have scourged him, they will put him to death. And the third day, he will arise again.

³⁴ But they understood none of these things. This saying was hid from them, and they could not perceive the things that were spoken.

³⁵ And it came to pass, as he came near to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside, begging. ³⁶ And when he heard the people pass by, he asked what it meant. ³⁷ And they said to him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. ³⁸ And he called out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! ³⁹ And the people who were in front admonished him to hold his peace. But he cried all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me!

⁴⁰ And Jesus stood still, and directed him to be brought to him. And when he had come near, Jesus asked him, saying, ⁴¹ What do you want me to do for you? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight! ⁴² Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. ⁴³ And immediately he saw, and followed him, praising God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave laud to God.