M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

The triumphal entry

11 So they approached Jerusalem. They got as far as Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, when Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead with a specific task.

² “Go to the village over there,” he said to them, “and as soon as you enter it you will find a colt tied up—one that nobody has ever ridden before. Untie it and bring it here. ³ And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing that?’ then say, ‘The master needs it, and he will return it at once.’ ”

⁴ They went off and found the colt tied up beside a door, out in the street; and they untied it.

⁵ Some of the bystanders said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ⁶ They gave the answer Jesus had told them, and they let them carry on. ⁷ So they brought the colt to Jesus and laid their cloaks on it, and he mounted it. ⁸ Several people spread out their cloaks in the road. Others did the same with foliage that they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those in front, and those coming behind, shouted out, “Hosanna! Welcome in the Lord’s name! ¹⁰ Here comes the kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem, went into the Temple, and looked all round. It was already getting late, and he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus cleanses the Temple

¹² The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ From some distance away he saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and hoped to find some fruit on it; but when he came up to it he found nothing but leaves. (It wasn’t yet the season for figs.)

¹⁴ He addressed the tree directly. “May no one ever eat fruit from you again,” he said. And his disciples heard.

¹⁵ They came into Jerusalem. Jesus went into the Temple and began to drive out the traders, those who bought and sold in the Temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dove-sellers. ¹⁶ He permitted no one to carry any vessel through the Temple. ¹⁷ He began to teach: “Isn’t this what’s written,” he said,

“But you’ve made it a brigands’ den!”

¹⁸ The chief priests and the legal experts heard, and looked for a way to get rid of him. But they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

¹⁹ When evening came, they went back out of the city.

²⁰ As they were returning, early in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.

²¹ “Look, Teacher!” said Peter to Jesus, remembering what had happened before. “The fig tree you cursed has withered.”

²² “Have faith in God,” replied Jesus. ²³ “I’m telling you the truth: if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be off with you—get yourself thrown into the sea,’ if they have no doubt in their heart, but believe that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ That’s why I’m telling you, everything that you request in prayer, everything you ask God for, believe that you receive it, and it will happen for you.

²⁵ “And when you are standing there praying, if you have something against someone else, forgive them—so that your father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

The authority of Jesus is questioned

²⁷ Once more they went into Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple he was approached by the chief priests, the legal experts and the elders.

²⁸ “By what right do you do these things?” they asked. “Who gave you the right to do them?”

²⁹ “I have one question for you, too,” replied Jesus, “and if you tell me the answer I shall tell you by what right I do these things. ³⁰ Was the baptism of John from heaven, or was it a human invention? What’s your answer?”

³¹ “Well now,” they muttered to each other, “if we say it was from heaven, he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say it was a human invention . . .” They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone regarded John as a prophet.

³³ “We don’t know,” they said to Jesus.

“Nor will I tell you,” replied Jesus, “by what right I do these things.”

The remnant of grace

11 So I ask, has God abandoned his people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham and the tribe of Benjamin. ² “God has not abandoned his people,” the ones he chose in advance.

Don’t you know what the Bible says in the passage about Elijah, describing how he pleads with God against Israel? ³ “Lord,” he says, “they have killed your prophets, they have thrown down your altars; I’m the only one left, and they are trying to kill me!” ⁴ But what is the reply from the divine word? “I have left for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

⁵ In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. ⁶ But if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

A stumble with a purpose

⁷ What then? Did Israel not obtain what it was looking for? Well, the chosen ones obtained it—but the rest were hardened, ⁸ as the Bible says:

⁹ And David says,

¹¹ So I ask, then: Have they tripped up in such a way as to fall completely? Certainly not! Rather, by their trespass, salvation has come to the nations, in order to make them jealous. ¹² If their trespass means riches for the world, and their impoverishment means riches for the nations, how much more will their fullness mean!

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I celebrate my particular ministry, ¹⁴ so that, if possible, I can make my “flesh” jealous, and save some of them. ¹⁵ If their casting away, you see, means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

The two olive trees

¹⁶ Take another illustration: if the first fruits are holy, so is the whole lump.

And another: if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you—a wild olive tree!—were grafted in among them, and came to share in the root of the olive with its rich sap, ¹⁸ don’t boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember this: it isn’t you that supports the root, but the root that supports you.

¹⁹ I know what you’ll say next: “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ That’s all very well. They were broken off because of unbelief—but you stand firm by faith. Don’t get big ideas about it; instead, be afraid. ²¹ After all, if God didn’t spare the natural branches, there’s a strong possibility he won’t spare you.

²² Note carefully, then, that God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who have fallen, but he is kind to you, provided you continue in his kindness—otherwise you too will be cut off. ²³ And they, too, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted back in. God is able, you see, to graft them back in. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will they, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Mercy upon all

²⁵ My dear brothers and sisters, you mustn’t get the wrong idea and think too much of yourselves. That is why I don’t want you to remain in ignorance of this mystery: a hardening has come for a time upon Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in. ²⁶ That is how “all Israel shall be saved,” as the Bible says:

²⁸ As regards the good news, they are enemies—for your sake! But as regards God’s choice they are beloved because of the patriarchs. ²⁹ God’s gifts and God’s call, you see, cannot be undone. ³⁰ For just as you were once disobedient to God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience, ³¹ so they have now disbelieved as well, in order that, through the mercy which has come your way, they too may now receive mercy. ³² For God has shut up all people in disobedience, so that he may have mercy upon all.

To God be the glory