M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Burning Bush
3 One day Moses was ·taking care of [shepherding; grazing] Jethro’s flock. (Jethro was the priest of Midian and also Moses’ father-in-law.) When Moses led the flock to the west side of the ·desert [wilderness], he came to ·Sinai [L Horeb; C another name for Mount Sinai], the mountain of God. 2 There the ·angel [messenger] of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire coming out of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but it was not ·burning up [consumed]. 3 So Moses said, “I will ·go closer to [L turn aside to see] this ·strange [or marvelous; great] thing. ·How can a bush continue burning without burning up [Why does not the bush burn]?”
4 When the Lord saw Moses was ·coming [L turning aside] to look at it, God called to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 Then God said, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals [L from your feet], because the place where you are standing is holy ground. 6 I am the God of your ·ancestors [fathers; L father]—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses ·covered [hid] his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The Lord said, “I have seen the ·troubles [affliction; or humiliation] my people have suffered in Egypt, and I have heard their cries ·when the Egyptian slavemasters hurt them [L before their foremen/taskmasters]. I ·am concerned about [L know] their pain, 8 and I have come down to ·save [rescue; deliver] them from the Egyptians. I will bring them out of that land and lead them to a good land with lots of room—a ·fertile land [L land flowing with milk and honey; C an image of abundant fertility]. It is the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 I have heard the cries of the people of Israel, and I have seen the way the Egyptians have ·made life hard for [oppressed] them. 10 So now I am sending you to ·the king of Egypt [L Pharaoh]. Go! Bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt!”
11 But Moses said to God, “·I am not a great man! How can I go to the king [L Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh] and ·lead [bring] the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 God said, “I will be with you. This will be the ·proof [sign] that I am sending you: After you lead the people out of Egypt, all of you will ·worship me [L serve God] on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “When I go to the Israelites, I will say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you.’ What if the people say, ‘What is his name [C names signified a person’s essence, character, or reputation]?’ What should I tell them?”
14 Then God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am” [C These Hebrew words are related to the name Yahweh, usually translated “Lord,” and suggest that God eternally lives and is always with his people]. When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, ‘I Am sent me to you.’”
15 God ·also [or again] said to Moses, “This is what you should tell the people: ‘The Lord is the God of your ·ancestors [fathers]—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He sent me to you.’ This will always be my name, ·by which people from now on will know me [L this is my title for all generations].
16 “Go and gather the elders of Israel and tell them this: ‘The Lord, the God of your ·ancestors [fathers] Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me. He said, I ·care about you, and I have seen [have paid attention to you and to] what has happened to you in Egypt. 17 I ·promised [L said] I would take you out of your ·troubles [affliction; or humiliation] in Egypt. I will lead you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a ·fertile land [L land flowing with milk and honey; 3:8].’
18 “The elders will listen to you. And then you and the elders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ·appeared to [L met with] us. Let us travel three days into the ·desert [wilderness] to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’
19 “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go. Only ·a great power will force him to let you go [L by a strong hand], 20 so I will ·use my great power against Egypt [L stretch forth my hand]. I will strike Egypt with all the ·miracles [wonders] that will happen in that land. After I do that, he will let you go. 21 I will cause the Egyptians to ·think well of [be favorable toward] the Israelites. So when you leave, ·they will give gifts to your people [L you will not leave emptyhanded; 12:35–36]. 22 Each woman should ask her Egyptian neighbor and any Egyptian woman living in her house for gifts—silver, gold, and clothing. You should put those gifts on your ·children [L sons and daughters] when you leave Egypt. In this way you will ·take with you the riches of [plunder] the Egyptians.”
Jesus Is Lord over the Sabbath(A)
6 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through some fields of grain. His ·followers [disciples] picked the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them [Deut. 23:25]. 2 Some Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is ·not lawful [forbidden] on the Sabbath day?” [C Gleaning was viewed as work, and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath; Ex. 34:21.]
3 Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and ·those with him [his companions] were hungry [1 Sam. 21:1–6]? 4 He went into God’s house and took and ate the ·holy bread [consecrated bread; L bread of presentation], which is ·lawful [allowed] only for priests to eat [Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9]. And he gave some to ·the people who were with him [his companions].” 5 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “The Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] is ·Lord [Master] of the Sabbath day.”
Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand(B)
6 On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man with a ·crippled [paralyzed; shriveled; T withered] right hand was there. 7 The ·teachers of the law [scribes] and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath day so they could ·accuse [make a charge against] him. 8 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man with the ·crippled [paralyzed; shriveled; T withered] hand, “Stand up here in ·the middle [front] of everyone.” The man got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do ·evil [harm], to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 Jesus looked around at all of them and said to the man, “·Hold [Stretch] out your hand.” The man ·held [stretched] out his hand, and it was ·healed [restored].
11 But the Pharisees and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] were very angry and discussed with each other what they could do to Jesus.
Jesus Chooses His Apostles(C)
12 At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the night praying to God. 13 ·The next morning [L When the day dawned], Jesus called his ·followers [disciples] to him and chose twelve of them, whom he ·named [designated] apostles: 14 Simon (Jesus named him Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (called the Zealot), 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later ·turned Jesus over to his enemies [L became a traitor].
Jesus Teaches and Heals(D)
17 Jesus and the apostles ·came down from the mountain [L came down; C perhaps to a level place on the side of the mountain], and he stood on level ground. A ·large group [great crowd] of his ·followers [disciples] was there, as well as many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They all came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their ·sicknesses [diseases], and he healed those who were troubled by ·evil [defiling; L unclean; 4:33] spirits. 19 All the people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Jesus looked at his ·followers [disciples] and said,
“·You people who are poor are blessed [or Blessed are you…; C and so through v. 22],
because the kingdom of God ·belongs to you [is yours].
21 You people who are now hungry are blessed,
because you will be ·satisfied [filled].
You people who are now ·crying [weeping] are blessed,
because you will ·laugh with joy [L laugh].
22 “·You are blessed [T Blessed are you; or God will bless you] when people hate you, ·shut you out [exclude/ostracize you], ·insult [mock] you, and ·say you are [L scorn/curse/defame your name as] evil because ·you follow [L of] the Son of Man. 23 ·Be full of joy [L Rejoice and leap] at that time, because you have a great reward in heaven. [L For] Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets [2 Chr. 36:16].
24 “But ·how terrible it will be for [L woe to] you who are rich,
because you have ·had your easy life [L already received your comfort/consolation].
25 ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] you who are ·full [well-fed] now,
because you will be hungry.
·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] you who are laughing now,
because you will ·be sad and cry [mourn and weep].
26 “·How terrible [L Woe to you] when everyone ·says only good things [speaks well] about you, because their ancestors ·said the same things about [L did the same things to] the false prophets.
Love Your Enemies(E)
27 “But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who ·are cruel to [hurt; mistreat] you. 29 If anyone ·slaps [strikes; hits] you on one cheek [C probably an insult or act of rejection, although it could be a stronger punch], ·offer him [T turn] the other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not ·stop him from taking [withhold] your ·shirt [tunic]. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don’t ·ask for [demand] it back. 31 ·Do to others what [Treat others as] you would want them to ·do to [treat] you. 32 If you love only the people who love you, what ·praise [credit] should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them. 33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, what ·praise [credit] should you get? Even sinners do that! 34 If you lend things to people, ·always hoping to get something back [or …from whom you expect to be repaid], what ·praise [credit] should you get? Even sinners lend to other sinners ·so that they can get back the same amount [expecting to be repaid in full]! 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without ·hoping [expecting] to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and ·full of sin [wicked; evil]. 36 ·Show mercy [Be compassionate], just as your Father ·shows mercy [is compassionate].
Look at Yourselves(F)
37 “Don’t judge others, and you will not be judged. Don’t ·accuse others of being guilty [condemn others], and you will not be ·accused of being guilty [condemned]. ·Forgive [Pardon; Release], and you will be ·forgiven [pardoned; released]. 38 Give, and ·you will receive [L it will be given to you]. ·You will be given much [L …a good measure…]. ·Pressed down [Compacted], shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap [C the image is of grain overflowing its container]. The ·way you give to [standard/measure you use with] others is the ·way God will give to [standard/measure God will use with] you.”
39 Jesus told them this ·story [parable]: “Can a blind person ·lead [guide] another blind person? No! Both of them will fall into a ·ditch [pit; hole]. 40 A ·student [disciple] is not ·better than [above] the teacher, but ·the student [L everyone] who has been fully trained will be like the teacher.
41 “Why do you notice the ·little piece of dust [speck; tiny splinter] in your ·friend’s [L brother’s (or sister’s)] eye, but you don’t ·notice [consider] the ·big piece of wood [log; plank; beam] in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your ·friend [L brother], ‘·Friend [L Brother], let me take that ·little piece of dust [speck; tiny splinter] out of your eye’ when you cannot see that ·big piece of wood [log; plank; beam] in your own eye! You hypocrite! First, take the ·wood [log; plank; beam] out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the ·dust [speck; tiny splinter] out of your friend’s [L brother’s] eye.
Two Kinds of Fruit(G)
43 “[L For] A good tree does not produce ·bad [rotten] fruit, nor does a ·bad [rotten] tree produce good fruit. 44 [L For] Each tree is ·known [identified] by its own fruit. [L For] People don’t ·gather [pick] figs from thornbushes, and they don’t get grapes from ·bushes [brambles; briers]. 45 Good people bring good things out of the good ·they stored [treasured] in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil ·they stored [treasured] in their hearts. ·People speak the things that are in their hearts [L For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart].
Two Kinds of People(H)
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and ·hears [listens to] my words and ·obeys [acts on them]. 48 That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the ·water [L river] ·tried to wash the house away [L swept/burst against that house], but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. 49 But the one who ·hears [listens to] my words and does not ·obey [act on them] is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the ·floods [L river] ·came [swept/burst against it], the house quickly ·fell [collapsed] and was completely destroyed.”
Zophar Answers
20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “My ·troubled thoughts [distress; worries] cause me to ·answer [respond],
because ·I am very upset [L of the agitation within me].
3 You ·correct [instruct] me and I am ·insulted [shamed],
but ·I understand how to answer you [or a spirit beyond my understanding gives me an answer].
4 “·You [L Do you not…?] know how it has been ·for a long time [since time immemorial],
ever since ·people were first put [or he put people] on the earth.
5 The ·happiness [luxuriance; enjoyment] of evil people is brief,
and the joy of the ·wicked [L godless] lasts only a moment.
6 ·Their pride may be [L They may go] as high as the heavens,
and their heads may touch the clouds,
7 but they will ·be gone [perish] forever, like their own dung.
People who ·knew [L saw] them will say, ‘Where are they?’
8 They will fly away like a dream
and not be found again;
they will be ·chased away [put to flight] like a vision in the night.
9 ·Those who [L The eye that] saw them will not see them again;
the places where they lived will see them no more.
10 Their children will ·have to pay back [or run after] the poor,
and ·they will have to give up [L their hand will return] their wealth.
11 They had the strength of their youth in their bones,
but it will lie with them in the dust of death.
12 “Evil may taste sweet in their mouths,
and they may hide it under their tongues.
13 They ·cannot stand to [L fight/linger over it and do not] let go of it;
they ·keep it in their mouths [L hide it under their tongues].
14 But their food ·will turn sour [L turns over] in their stomachs,
like the poison of a ·snake [asp] inside them.
15 They have swallowed riches, but they will ·spit [vomit] them out;
God will make them ·vomit [disgorge] ·their riches up [L it from their bellies; Prov. 11:4; 21:6].
16 They will suck the poison of ·snakes [asps],
and the ·snake’s fangs [L viper’s tongue] will kill them.
17 They will not ·admire [L look at] ·the sparkling streams [or streams of oil]
or the rivers flowing with honey and ·cream [or butter; or curds].
18 They must give back ·what they worked for [their gains] ·without eating it [unswallowed];
they will not enjoy the ·money they made from their trading [or benefit of their reward],
19 because they ·troubled the poor and left them with nothing [L crushed and abandoned the poor].
They have ·taken [stolen] houses they did not build [Prov. 28:27; 29:7].
20 “Evil people never ·lack an appetite [L experience ease/comfort in their bellies],
and nothing ·escapes their selfishness [L they covet escapes them].
21 But nothing will be left ·for them to eat [or after they eat];
their riches will not continue.
22 When they still have plenty, ·trouble will catch up to them [L they will have distress],
and ·great misery [L all the force/hand of trouble] will come down on them.
23 When the wicked fill their stomachs,
God will send his burning anger against them,
·and blows of punishment will fall on them like rain [or raining it on them like their food].
24 The wicked may run away from an iron weapon,
but a bronze ·arrow [L bow] will ·stab [pierce] them.
25 They will pull the arrows out of their backs
and pull the points out of their ·livers [L gall bladders].
·Terrors [Dread] will come over them;
26 total darkness ·waits for their treasure [or is stored up for them].
A fire not fanned by people [C perhaps lightning] will ·destroy [L consume] them
and ·burn up [L horrible things will happen to] ·what is left of [or the survivors in] their tents.
27 The heavens will ·show [reveal] their guilt,
and the earth will rise up against them.
28 ·A flood will carry their houses away [or The possessions of their house will be taken away],
·swept away [L like the torrents] on the day of God’s anger.
29 This is ·what God plans for evil [L the lot/fate of guilty] people;
·this is what he has decided they will receive [L the inheritance decreed by God].”
About Marriage
7 Now ·I will discuss [L concerning] the things you wrote me about [C in a letter from the Corinthians; see 8:1; 12:1; 16:1]. It is good for a man not to ·have sexual relations with [L touch; C a euphemism for sex] a woman [C probably another slogan (6:12; 8:1, 4; 10:23) asserting that a celibate lifestyle was spiritually superior]. 2 But because ·sexual sin is a danger [of sexual temptations; L of sexual sins], each man should ·have [or have sexual relations with] his own wife, and each woman should ·have [or have sexual relations with] her own husband. 3 The husband should give his wife all that he owes her as his wife [C meet her sexual needs]. And the wife should give her husband all that she owes him as her husband [C meet his sexual needs]. 4 The wife does not have ·full rights [L authority] over her own body; her husband shares them. And the husband does not have ·full rights [authority] over his own body; his wife shares them [C revolutionary teaching in the first century, when wives were generally viewed as the possession of their husbands]. 5 Do not ·refuse to give your bodies to [refuse sex to; L deprive] each other, unless you both agree to stay away from sexual relations for a time so you can ·give your time [devote yourselves] to prayer. Then ·come together again [resume your sexual relationship] so Satan cannot tempt you because of a lack of self-control. 6 I say this ·to give you permission to stay away from sexual relations for a time [L as a concession/allowance]. It is not a command to do so. 7 I wish that everyone were like me [C unmarried], but each person has his own gift from God. One has one gift, another has another gift.
8 Now for those who are not married and for the widows I say this: It is good for them to stay unmarried as I am. 9 But if they cannot ·control themselves [exercise self-control], they should marry. It is better to marry than ·to burn with sexual desire [L to burn].
10 Now I give this command for the married people. (The command is not from me; it is from the Lord [C Jesus taught on divorce; Mark 10:5–12].) A wife should not ·leave [separate from; or divorce] her husband. 11 But if she does ·leave [or divorce], she must not marry again, or she should ·make up [reconcile] with her husband. Also the husband should not ·divorce [or leave] his wife.
12 For ·all the others [the rest] I say this (I am saying this, not the Lord [C Jesus gave no instruction on this, but Paul still speaks with authority as an apostle]): If a ·Christian man [L brother] has a wife who is not a believer, and she is ·happy [content; willing] to live with him, he must not ·divorce [or leave] her. 13 And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer, and he is ·happy [content; willing] to live with her, she must not ·divorce [or leave] him. 14 The husband who is not a believer is ·made holy [sanctified; touched by holiness] through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is ·made holy [sanctified; touched by holiness] through her believing husband. If this were not true, your children would ·not be clean [be spiritually impure; or be without spiritual influence], but now your children are holy [C some Corinthians said an unbeliever defiled a Christian marriage; Paul reverses this and says believers “sanctify” the marriage].
15 But if those who are not believers decide to ·leave [or divorce], let them ·leave [or divorce]. When this happens, the ·Christian man [L brother] or ·woman [L sister] is ·free [L not bound; C to the marriage covenant]. But God called us[a] to ·live in peace [L peace]. 16 Wife, you don’t know; maybe you will save your husband. And husband, you don’t know; maybe you will save your wife.
Live as God Called You
17 But in any case each one of you should continue to live ·the way [or in the situation] God has given you to live—the way you were when God called you. This is a ·rule [instruction] I make in all the churches. 18 If a man was already circumcised when he was called, he should not undo his circumcision. If a man was without circumcision when he was called, he should not be circumcised. 19 ·It is not important if a man is circumcised or not [L Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing]. The important thing is ·obeying [keeping] God’s commands. 20 Each one of you should stay ·the way you were [in the situation you were in] when God called you. 21 If you were a slave when God called you, do not let that bother you. But if you can ·be free [gain your freedom], ·then make good use of your freedom [or then take that opportunity; or instead remain and make use of your opportunities as a slave]. 22 [L For] Those who were slaves when the Lord called them are free persons who belong to the Lord. In the same way, those who were free when they were called are now Christ’s slaves. 23 You all were bought at a great price, so do not become slaves of people. 24 Brothers and sisters, each of you should stay as you were when you were called, ·and stay there with God [or with God at your side; L with God].
Questions About Getting Married
25 Now I write about ·people who are not married [or those never married; or betrothed women; L virgins]. I have no command from the Lord about this; I give my ·opinion [perspective; judgment]. But I can be trusted, because the Lord has shown me mercy. 26 Because ·the present time is a time of trouble [of the present crisis/distress/trouble], I think it is ·good [best] for you to stay the way you are. 27 If you ·have a wife [L are bound to a wife; or are pledged to a woman], do not try to ·become free from [or divorce] her. If you are not married, do not try to find a wife. 28 But if you decide to marry, you have not sinned. And if a ·girl who has never married [or betrothed woman; L virgin] decides to marry, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have ·trouble [trials; tribulation] in ·this life [this world; L the flesh], and I want ·you to be free [to spare you] from trouble [C during times of persecution, those with family obligations suffer the most].
29 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: ·We do not have much time left [The time is short/limited/coming to an end]. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives. 30 Those who are ·crying [weeping; mourning] should live as if they were not ·crying [weeping; mourning]. Those who ·are happy [rejoice] should live as if they were not ·happy [rejoicing]. Those who buy things should live as if they ·own [or could keep/hold on to] nothing. 31 Those who use ·the things of the world [L the world] should live as if they were not ·using [engrossed in; dependent upon] them, because this world in its present form ·will soon be gone [is passing away].
32 I want you to be free from ·worry [concern]. A man who is not married is ·busy [concerned] with the Lord’s work, trying to please the Lord. 33 But a man who is married is ·busy [concerned] with things of the world, trying to please his wife. 34 He ·must think about two things—pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord [L is divided]. A woman who is not married or a ·girl who has never married [or betrothed woman; L virgin] is ·busy [concerned] with the ·Lord’s work [L things of the Lord]. She wants to be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is ·busy [concerned] with things of the world, as to how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this to help you, not to ·limit [restrain] you. But I want you to live ·in the right way [or in a proper/orderly manner; or above criticism], to ·give yourselves fully [be devoted] to the Lord without ·concern for other things [distraction].
36 If a man thinks he is ·not doing the right thing with [or acting improperly toward] ·the girl he is engaged to [L his virgin; C it is possible, but less likely, that the passage concerns a father’s decision to allow his virgin daughter to marry; a third option is that it is about a couple in a “spiritual” (celibate) marriage deciding whether to consummate it], if ·she is almost past the best age to marry [or his passions are too strong; L he/she is at the highest point] and ·he feels he should marry her [L it ought to be so], he should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin. 37 But if a man is ·sure [resolved; firm] in his ·mind [conviction; heart] that there is no ·need for marriage [obligation; necessity], and has his own ·desires [or will] under control, and has decided ·not to marry the one to whom he is engaged [to keep her a virgin], he is doing the right thing. 38 So the man who marries his ·fiancée [L virgin] does right, but the man who does not marry will do better.
39 A woman ·must stay with [is bound to] her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry any man she wants, but she must marry ·another believer [L in the Lord]. 40 The woman is ·happier [better off; more blessed] if she ·does not marry again [L remains as she is]. This is my ·opinion [perspective; judgment], but I believe I also have God’s Spirit [C Paul affirms he is speaking for God].
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