M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Burnt Offering
1 The Lord ·called to [summoned] Moses and spoke to him from the Meeting Tent, saying, 2 “Tell the ·people [L sons; children] of Israel: ‘When you bring an offering [L of livestock] to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from the herd or flock.
3 “‘If the offering is a whole burnt offering from the herd, it must be a male ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect]. The person must take the animal to the entrance of the Meeting Tent so that the Lord will accept the offering. 4 He must ·put [lay] his hand on the animal’s head [C to identify with the animal that served as a substitute], and ·the Lord will accept it to remove the person’s sin so he will belong to God [L it will be acceptable as atonement/expiation for him]. 5 He must ·kill [slaughter] the young bull before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, must bring its blood and ·sprinkle [dash] it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Meeting Tent. 6 After that he will skin the ·animal [L whole burnt offering] and cut it into pieces. 7 The [L sons of Aaron, the] priests, when they have ·put [arranged] wood and fire on the altar, 8 [L the sons of Aaron, the priests,] are to ·lay [arrange] the head, the ·fat [suet], and other pieces on the wood that is on the fire of the altar. 9 The animal’s inner organs and legs must be washed with water. Then the priest must ·burn all the animal’s parts [L turn it into smoke] on the altar. It is a whole burnt offering, an offering made by fire, and its smell is pleasing to the Lord.
10 “‘If the ·burnt offering [L offering; gift] is a sheep or a goat from the flock [C acceptable if the worshiper could not afford a bull], it must be a male ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect]. 11 The person must ·kill [slaughter] the animal on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, must ·sprinkle [dash] its blood on all sides of the altar. 12 The person must cut the animal into pieces, and the priest must ·lay [arrange] them, with the head and ·fat [suet], on the wood that is on the fire of the altar. 13 The person must wash the animal’s inner organs and legs with water, and then the priest must ·burn all its parts [L turn it into smoke] on the altar. It is a whole burnt offering, an offering made by fire, and its smell is pleasing to the Lord.
14 “‘If the ·whole burnt offering [offering; gift] for the Lord is a bird [C presumably because the worshiper could not afford an animal from the herd or flock], it must be a dove or a young pigeon. 15 The priest will bring it to the altar and ·pull [wring] off its head, which he will ·burn [L turn into smoke] on the altar; its blood must be drained out on the side of the altar. 16 The priest must remove the bird’s crop [C a part of its digestive system] and its contents and throw them on the east side of the altar, where the ashes are. 17 Then he must tear the bird open by its wings without dividing it into two parts. The priest must ·burn the bird [L turn it into smoke] on the altar, on the wood which is on the fire. It is a whole burnt offering, an offering made by fire, and its smell is pleasing to the Lord.
Jesus’ Tomb Is Empty(A)
20 Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb while it was still dark. When she saw that the large stone had been moved away from the tomb, 2 she ran to Simon Peter and the ·follower [disciple] whom Jesus loved [C probably John]. Mary said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”
3 So Peter and the other ·follower [disciple] started for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other ·follower [disciple] ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down and looked in and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then following him, Simon Peter arrived and went into the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying there. 7 He also saw the [burial] cloth that had been around Jesus’ head, which was ·folded [or rolled] up and laid [by itself] in a different place from the strips of linen. 8 Then the other ·follower [disciple], who had reached the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. 9 ([L For] They did not yet understand from the Scriptures that ·Jesus must rise [it was necessary for him to rise] from the dead.)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
10 Then the ·followers [disciples] went back home. 11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, ·crying [weeping]. As she was ·crying [weeping], she bent down and looked inside the tomb. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you ·crying [weeping]?”
She answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 When Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not ·know [realize] it was Jesus.
15 Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you ·crying [weeping]? Whom are you looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “·Did you take him away, sir? [L If you took him away, sir…] Tell me where you put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Hebrew [C Aramaic] language, “Rabboni [C a variant of the more common Rabbi].” (This means “Teacher.”)
17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t ·hold on to [cling to; or touch] me, because I have not yet ·gone up [ascended] to the Father. But go to my brothers [C his disciples] and tell them, ‘I am ·going back [ascending] to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went and said to the ·followers [disciples], “I saw the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.
Jesus Appears to His Followers(B)
19 When it was evening on the first day of the week, Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] were together. The doors were ·locked [shut], because they were afraid of ·the elders [the Jewish leaders; L the Jews]. Then Jesus came and stood right in the middle of them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. His ·followers [disciples] ·were thrilled [rejoiced] when they saw the Lord.
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, I now send you.” 22 After he said this, he breathed on them [Gen. 2:7] and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven. If you ·don’t forgive them [withhold forgiveness; L retain the sins of any; Matt. 16:19; 18:18], they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Thomas (called Didymus [C meaning “the Twin”]), who was one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other ·followers [disciples] kept telling Thomas, “We saw the Lord.”
But Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side.”
26 ·A week later [L After eight days] the ·followers [disciples] were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. The doors were ·locked [shut], but Jesus came in and stood right in the middle of them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop ·being an unbeliever [doubting] and believe.”
28 Thomas ·said to [answered] him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me. ·Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed [L Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed].”
Why John Wrote This Book
30 Jesus [L therefore] did many other ·miracles [L signs; 2:11] in the presence of his ·followers [disciples] that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may ·believe [or keep on believing] that Jesus is the Christ [C Greek: Christos, for Hebrew Mashiach, the “anointed one”], the Son of God. Then, by believing, you may have life through his name.
17 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in ·peace [quiet]
than to have a feast where there is ·quarreling [strife; contention].
2 A ·wise [insightful] servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful child
and will even ·inherit a share of what the master leaves his children [L divide an inheritance with the brothers/relatives].
3 A crucible ·tests [or refines] silver and a furnace gold,
but the Lord ·tests [or refines] hearts.
4 Evil people listen to ·evil words [L guilty lips].
Liars pay attention to ·cruel words [L a destructive tongue].
5 Whoever ·mistreats [ridicules; mocks] the poor insults their Maker;
whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will ·be punished [L not go unpunished].
6 ·Old people are proud of their grandchildren [L Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly],
and ·children are proud of [L the glory/splendor of children are] their parents.
7 ·Fools should not be proud [or It is not right for fools to be good speakers],
and ·rulers [honorable people] should not ·be liars [L have lying lips].
8 ·Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask [L A bribe is a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it].
·They think it will work every time [L It grants success to all who use it].
9 ·Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend [L One who seeks love conceals an offense],
but ·gossiping about the sin [repeating a thing] breaks up friendships.
10 A wise person will learn more from a ·warning [rebuke]
than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.
11 Disobedient ·people look only for trouble [L seek only rebellion],
so a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 It is ·better [safer] to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to meet a fool doing foolish things.
13 Whoever gives evil in return for good
will always have trouble at home.
14 Starting a quarrel is like ·a leak in a dam [L letting out water],
so ·stop it [hold back an accusation] before a fight breaks out.
15 The Lord hates both of these things:
·freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent [L judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous].
16 It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom,
because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise.
17 A friend loves you all the time,
and a brother ·helps in [L is born for a] time of trouble.
18 ·It is not wise to promise
to pay what your neighbor owes [L A person lacks sense/heart who shakes hands in agreement, who secures a loan for a friend/neighbor].
19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin.
Whoever ·brags a lot is asking for trouble [L builds a high doorway is seeking a collapse].
20 A person with an ·evil [crooked] heart will find no success,
and the person ·whose words are evil [L who twists matters with their tongue] will get into trouble.
21 It is sad to have a foolish child;
there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.
22 A happy heart ·is like good medicine [L brings healing],
but a broken spirit ·drains your strength [L dries up bone].
23 When the wicked ·accept money to do wrong [take a secret bribe/L bribe from the chest/bosom]
·there can be no [it stretches] justice.
24 The person with understanding is always ·looking for [focused on] wisdom,
but the mind of a fool wanders ·everywhere [L to the ends of the earth].
25 Foolish children make their father sad
and cause their mother great ·sorrow [bitterness].
26 It is not good to punish the ·innocent [righteous]
or to beat leaders for being honest.
27 The wise ·say very little [restrain/hold back their talk],
and those with understanding stay ·calm [coolheaded].
28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;
if they ·don’t speak [L keep their lips shut], they appear to understand.
What the Christians Are to Do
4 [L Therefore; So then] My brothers and sisters, ·I love you and want to see you [L my beloved and longed-for ones]. ·You bring me joy and make me proud of you [L …my joy and crown; 1 Thess. 2:19; C a wreath bestowed for victory or honor], so stand ·strong [firm] in the Lord as I have told you, ·dear friends [beloved].
2 I ·ask [urge; encourage; exhort] Euodia and Syntyche [C two women in the Philippian congregation] to agree in the Lord. 3 And I ask you, my ·faithful [true; genuine] ·friend [companion; L yoke-partner; C possibly a proper name: Syzygos], to help these women. They ·served [struggled; labored] with me in telling the ·Good News [Gospel], together with Clement and ·others who worked with me [L the rest of my coworkers], whose names are written in the book of life [Rev. 3:5; 21:27].
4 ·Be full of joy [Rejoice] in the Lord always. I will say again, ·be full of joy [rejoice].
5 Let everyone see that you are ·gentle [kind; considerate; patient]. The Lord is ·coming soon [or close at hand; L near]. 6 Do not ·worry [be anxious] about anything, but pray and ·ask God for everything you need [or make your requests known to God], always giving thanks. 7 And God’s peace, which ·is so great we cannot understand it [transcends/surpasses all comprehension], will ·keep [guard] your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 [L Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things. 9 Do what you learned and received and heard ·from [L in] me, and what you saw ·me do [L in me]. And the God ·who gives [L of] peace will be with you.
Paul Thanks the Christians
10 I ·am very happy [L rejoiced greatly] in the Lord that you have ·shown [renewed; revived] your ·care [concern] for me again. You continued to ·care [be concerned] about me, but ·there was no way for you [you had no opportunity] to show it. 11 I am not telling you this because I need anything. [L For] I have learned to be ·satisfied [content] ·whatever the circumstances [or with whatever I have]. 12 I know how to live when I am ·poor [in humble circumstances], and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the ·secret of being happy [L secret] ·at any time in everything that happens [or in any and all circumstances], when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have ·more than I need [plenty; an abundance] and when I do not have enough. 13 I can do all things through ·Christ, because he [L the one who] gives me strength.
14 ·But [However; Nevertheless] it was good that you ·helped [shared/partnered with] me ·when I needed it [L in my trouble/trial]. 15 You Philippians remember ·when I first preached the Good News there [or when you first believed the Good News/Gospel; L in the beginning of the Good News/Gospel; Acts 16:11–40]. When I left Macedonia [C the northern part of present-day Greece; Acts 17:14–15], ·you were the only church that [L no church except you alone] ·gave me help [L shared/partnered with me in matters of giving and receiving; C business terminology; the Philippians “invested” in Paul’s ministry and received back spiritual blessings]. 16 [L For] Even when I was in Thessalonica [C shortly after leaving Philippi; Thessalonica is southwest of Philippi; Acts 17:1–9] ·several times [L both once and twice] you sent me things I needed. 17 Really, it is not that I ·want to receive gifts from you [L seek the gift], but I ·want you to have the good that comes from giving [L seek the profit/fruit that increases to your account; C more business terminology; v. 15]. 18 And now I have ·everything [or received full payment], and more. I ·have all I need [or am fully supplied/filled up], because Epaphroditus [2:25] brought your gifts to me. They are ·like a sweet-smelling offering to God [L a fragrant aroma], a sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to him. 19 [L And] My God will ·meet [supply; fulfill] all of your needs ·from [L according to] his ·wonderful riches [glorious riches; or riches in heaven/glory] in Christ Jesus. 20 Glory to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Greet each ·of God’s people [T saint] in Christ Jesus. ·Those [L The brothers (and sisters)] who are with me send greetings to you. 22 All of ·God’s people [T the saints] greet you, particularly those from ·the palace of Caesar [L Caesar’s household; C the soldiers, slaves, and freedmen engaged in imperial service].
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with ·you all [your spirit].
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