M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jethro’s Visit
18 Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian,(A) heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for God’s people Israel when the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Now Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah,(B) Moses’s wife, after he had sent her back, 3 along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom[a] (because Moses had said, “I have been a resident alien in a foreign land”)(C) 4 and the other Eliezer (because he had said, “The God of my father was my helper and rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword”).[b]
5 Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, along with Moses’s wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.(D) 6 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down,(E) and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been[c] and went into the tent. 8 Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the Lord rescued them.(F)
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. 10 “Blessed be the Lord,”(G) Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh. He has rescued the people from under the power of Egypt! 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”[d](H)
12 Then Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’s father-in-law in God’s presence.
13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’s father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”(I)
17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him. 18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone.(J) 19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him. 20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.(K) 21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit.(L) Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.(M) 22 They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every major case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load,[e] and they will bear it with you.(N) 23 If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”[f]
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.
27 Moses let his father-in-law go, and he journeyed to his own land.(O)
The Widow’s Gift
21 He(A) looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury.(B) 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.[a](C) 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them.(D) 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Destruction of the Temple Predicted
5 As(E) some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “These things that you see—the days will come(F) when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”(G)
Signs of the End of the Age
7 “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” (H)
8 Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived.(I) For many will come in my name,(J) saying, ‘I am he,’(K) and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.(L) 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions,[b] don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”
10 Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(M) 11 There will be violent earthquakes,(N) and famines and plagues(O) in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.(P) 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you(Q) and persecute(R) you. They will hand you over to the synagogues(S) and prisons,(T) and you will be brought before kings and governors(U) because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.(V) 14 Therefore make up your minds[c] not to prepare your defense ahead of time,(W) 15 for I will give you such words(X) and a wisdom(Y) that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.(Z) 16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.(AA) They will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name,(AB) 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost.(AC) 19 By your endurance, gain[d] your lives.(AD)
The Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,(AE) then recognize that its desolation(AF) has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee(AG) to the mountains.(AH) Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance(AI) to fulfill all the things that are written. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,(AJ) for there will be great distress in the land[e] and wrath against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword[f](AK) and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles[g](AL) until the times of the Gentiles(AM) are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; (AN) and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves.(AO) 26 People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.(AP) 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud(AQ) with power and great glory.(AR) 28 But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”(AS)
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize[h] that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.(AT) 33 Heaven and earth will pass away,(AU) but my words will never pass away.(AV)
The Need for Watchfulness
34 “Be on your guard,(AW) so that your minds are not dulled[i] from carousing,[j] drunkenness,(AX) and worries of life,(AY) or that day will come on you unexpectedly(AZ) 35 like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But be alert at all times,(BA) praying that you may have strength[k] to escape(BB) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 During(BC) the day, he was teaching in the temple,(BD) but in the evening he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.(BE) 38 Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear him in the temple.(BF)
36 Then Elihu continued, saying:
2 Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you,
for there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from a distant place
and ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 Indeed, my words are not false;
one who has complete knowledge is with you.
5 Yes, God is mighty, but he despises no one;
he understands all things.[a](A)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,(B)
but he gives justice to the oppressed.
7 He does not withdraw his gaze from the righteous,
but he seats them forever with enthroned kings,
and they are exalted.
8 If people are bound with chains
and trapped by the cords of affliction,
9 God tells them what they have done
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10 He opens their ears(C) to correction
and tells them to repent from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him,
they will end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.(D)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will cross the river of death[b]
and die without knowledge.(E)
13 Those who have a godless heart harbor anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in their youth;
their life ends among male cult prostitutes.(F)
15 God rescues the afflicted by their affliction;
he instructs them by their torment.
16 Indeed, he lured you from the jaws[c] of distress
to a spacious and unconfined place.
Your table was spread with choice food.
17 Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice have seized you.
18 Be careful that no one lures you with riches;[d]
do not let a large ransom[e] lead you astray.(G)
19 Can your wealth[f] or all your physical exertion
keep you from distress?(H)
20 Do not long for the night
when nations will disappear from their places.
21 Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,
for that is why you have been tested by[g] affliction.
22 Look, God shows himself exalted by his power.
Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has appointed his way for him,
and who has declared, “You have done wrong”?(I)
24 Remember that you should praise his work,
which people have sung about.(J)
25 All mankind has seen it;
people have looked at it from a distance.(K)
26 Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;(L)
the number of his years cannot be counted.(M)
27 For he makes waterdrops evaporate;[h]
they distill the rain into its[i] mist,(N)
28 which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out
or how the thunder roars from God’s pavilion?(O)
30 See how he spreads his lightning(P) around him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 For he judges the nations with these;
he gives food in abundance.(Q)
32 He covers his hands with lightning
and commands it to hit its mark.
33 The[j] thunder declares his presence;[k]
the cattle also, the approaching storm.
6 Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 For he says:
See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!(B)
The Character of Paul’s Ministry
3 We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4 Instead, as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardships, by difficulties, 5 by beatings, by imprisonments,(C) by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, 6 by purity,(D) by knowledge,(E) by patience,(F) by kindness,(G) by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,(H) 7 by the word of truth,[b](I) by the power of God;(J) through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 through glory(K) and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; 9 as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see—we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; 10 as grieving, yet always rejoicing;(L) as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 I speak as to my children; as a proper response, open your heart to us.
Separation to God
14 Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?(M) Or what fellowship does light(N) have with darkness?(O) 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial?[c] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?(P) For we[d] are the temple of the living God, as God said:
I will dwell(Q)
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,(R)
and they will be my people.[e](S)
17 Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.[f](T)
18 And I will be a Father(U) to you,
and you will be sons(V) and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.[g](W)
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