M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Solomon Builds the Temple
3 Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord. He built it on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. That’s where the Lord had appeared to Solomon’s father David. The Lord had appeared at the threshing floor of Araunah. Araunah was from Jebus. David had provided the threshing floor. 2 Solomon began building the temple on the second day of the second month. It was in the fourth year of his rule.
3 Solomon laid the foundation for God’s temple. It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. Solomon’s men followed the standard measure used at that time. 4 The porch in front of the temple was 30 feet across and 30 feet high.
Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold. 5 He covered the inside of the main hall with juniper boards. Then he covered the boards with fine gold. He decorated the hall with palm tree patterns and chain patterns. 6 He decorated the temple with valuable jewels. The gold he used came from Parvaim. 7 He covered the ceiling beams, doorframes, walls and doors of the temple with gold. He carved cherubim on the walls.
8 He built the Most Holy Room. It was as long as the temple was wide. It was 30 feet long and 30 feet wide. He covered the inside of the Most Holy Room with 23 tons of fine gold. 9 He also covered the upper parts with gold. The gold on the nails weighed 20 ounces.
10 For the Most Holy Room, Solomon made a pair of carved cherubim. He covered them with gold. 11 The total length of the cherubim’s wings from tip to tip was 30 feet. One wing of the first cherub was seven and a half feet long. Its tip touched the temple wall. The other wing was also seven and a half feet long. Its tip touched the wing tip of the other cherub. 12 In the same way one wing of the second cherub was seven and a half feet long. Its tip touched the other temple wall. The other wing was also seven and a half feet long. Its tip touched the wing tip of the first cherub. 13 So the total length of the wings of the two cherubim was 30 feet from tip to tip. The cherubim stood facing the main hall.
14 Solomon made the curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into its pattern.
15 For the front of the temple, Solomon made two pillars. Each pillar was 26 feet tall. Each had a decorated top seven and a half feet high. 16 Solomon made chains that were linked together. He put them on top of the pillars. He also made 100 pomegranates. He fastened them to the chains. 17 Solomon set the pillars up in front of the temple. One was on the south. The other was on the north. He named the one on the south Jakin. The one on the north he named Boaz.
More Facts About the Temple
4 Solomon made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide and 15 feet high. 2 He made a huge metal bowl for washing. Its shape was round. It measured 15 feet from rim to rim. It was seven and a half feet high. And it was 45 feet around. 3 Below the rim there was a circle of bull figures around the bowl. In every 18 inches around the bowl there were ten bulls. The bulls were arranged in two rows. They were made as part of the bowl itself.
4 The bowl stood on 12 bulls. Three of them faced north. Three faced west. Three faced south. And three faced east. The bowl rested on top of them. Their rear ends were toward the center. 5 The bowl was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup. The rim was shaped like the bloom of a lily. The bowl held 18,000 gallons of water.
6 Solomon made ten smaller bowls for washing. He placed five of them on the south side of the huge bowl. He placed the other five on the north side. The things used for the burnt offerings were rinsed in the smaller bowls. But the priests used the huge bowl for washing.
7 Solomon made ten gold lampstands. He followed the pattern the Lord had given him. He placed the lampstands in the temple. He put five of them on the south side. He put the other five on the north side.
8 He made ten tables. He placed them in the temple. He put five of them on the south side. He put the other five on the north side. He also made 100 gold sprinkling bowls.
9 He made the courtyard of the priests. He also made the large courtyard. He made doors for it. He covered the doors with bronze. 10 He placed the huge bowl on the south side of the courtyard. He put it at the southeast corner.
11 And Huram also made the pots, shovels and sprinkling bowls.
So Huram finished the work he had started for King Solomon. Here’s what he made for God’s temple.
12 He made the two pillars.
He made the two tops for the pillars. The tops were shaped like bowls.
He made the two sets of chains that were linked together. They decorated the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars.
13 He made the 400 pomegranates for the two sets of chains. There were two rows of pomegranates for each chain. They decorated the bowl-shaped tops of the pillars.
14 He made the stands and their bowls.
15 He made the huge bowl. He made the 12 bulls that were under it.
16 He made the pots, shovels and meat forks. He also made all the things used with them.
Huram-Abi made all these objects for King Solomon for the Lord’s temple. He made them out of bronze. Then he shined them up. 17 The king had them made in clay molds. It was done on the plains of the Jordan River between Sukkoth and Zarethan. 18 Solomon made huge numbers of these things. There were too many of them to weigh. In fact, it was impossible to add up the weight of all the bronze.
19 Solomon also made all the objects that were in God’s temple.
He made the golden altar.
He made the tables for the holy bread.
20 He made the pure gold lampstands and their lamps. The lamps burned in front of the Most Holy Room, just as the law required.
21 He made the gold flowers. He made the gold lamps and tongs. They were made out of solid gold.
22 He made the wick cutters, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and shallow cups for burning incense. All of them were made out of pure gold. He made the gold doors of the temple. They were the inner doors to the Most Holy Room and the doors of the main hall.
3 See what amazing love the Father has given us! Because of it, we are called children of God. And that’s what we really are! The world doesn’t know us because it didn’t know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God. He still hasn’t let us know what we will be. But we know that when Christ appears, we will be like him. That’s because we will see him as he really is. 3 Christ is pure. All who hope to be like him make themselves pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law. In fact, breaking the law is sin. 5 But you know that Christ came to take our sins away. And there is no sin in him. 6 No one who remains joined to him keeps on sinning. No one who keeps on sinning has seen him or known him.
7 Dear children, don’t let anyone lead you astray. The person who does what is right is holy, just as Christ is holy. 8 The person who does what is sinful belongs to the devil. That’s because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the devil’s work. 9 Those who are God’s children will not keep on sinning. God’s very nature remains in them. They can’t go on sinning. That’s because they are God’s children. 10 Here is how you can tell the difference between God’s children and the devil’s children. Anyone who doesn’t do what is right isn’t God’s child. And anyone who doesn’t love their brother or sister isn’t God’s child either.
More Instructions About Loving and Hating One Another
11 From the beginning we have heard that we should love one another. 12 Don’t be like Cain. He belonged to the evil one. He murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because the things Cain had done were wrong. But the things his brother had done were right. 13 My brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have left our old dead way of life. And we have entered into new life. We know this because we love one another. Anyone who doesn’t love still lives in their old condition. 15 Anyone who hates their brother or sister is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life.
16 We know what love is because Jesus Christ gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 Suppose someone sees a brother or sister in need and is able to help them. And suppose that person doesn’t take pity on these needy people. Then how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, don’t just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.
19 Here’s how we know that we hold to the truth. And here’s how we put our hearts at rest, knowing that God is watching. 20 If our hearts judge us, we know that God is greater than our hearts. And he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not judge us, we can be bold with God. 22 And he will give us anything we ask. That’s because we obey his commands. We do what pleases him. 23 God has commanded us to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. He has also commanded us to love one another. 24 The one who obeys God’s commands remains joined to him. And he remains joined to them. Here is how we know that God lives in us. We know it because of the Holy Spirit he gave us.
The Lord Will Destroy Nineveh
2 Nineveh, armies are coming to attack you.
Guard the forts!
Watch the roads!
Get ready!
Gather all your strength!
2 Assyria once took everything of value from God’s people.
Its army destroyed all their vines.
But the Lord will bring back
the glory of Jacob’s people.
He’ll make Israel glorious again.
3 The shields of the soldiers are red.
The warriors are dressed in bright red uniforms.
The metal on their chariots flashes
when they are prepared for war.
Their spears made out of juniper are ready to use.
4 The chariots race through the main streets.
They rush back and forth through them.
They look like flaming torches.
They dart around like lightning.
5 Nineveh sends for their special troops.
But they trip and fall on their way.
They run toward the city wall.
They keep their shield in front of them.
6 The attackers open the gates that hold back
the waters of the river.
And the palace falls down.
7 The attackers order that Nineveh’s people
be taken away as prisoners.
The female slaves sound like doves as they mourn.
They beat their chests.
8 Nineveh is like a pool
whose water is draining away.
“Stop running away!” someone cries out.
But no one turns back.
9 “Steal the silver!” the attackers shout.
“Grab the gold!”
The supply is endless.
There is plenty of wealth
among all the city’s treasures.
10 Nineveh is destroyed, robbed and stripped!
Hearts melt away in fear.
Knees give way.
Bodies tremble with fear.
Everyone’s face turns pale.
11 Assyria is like a lion.
Where is the lions’ den now?
Where did they feed their cubs?
Where did all the lions go?
In their den they had nothing to fear.
12 The lion killed enough for his cubs to eat.
He choked what he caught for his mate.
He filled his home with what he had killed.
He brought to his dens what he had caught.
13 “Nineveh, I am against you,”
announces the Lord who rules over all.
“I will burn up your chariots with fire.
Your young lions will be killed by swords.
I will leave you nothing on earth to catch.
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.”
The Story of the Widow Who Would Not Give Up
18 Jesus told his disciples a story. He wanted to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said, “In a certain town there was a judge. He didn’t have any respect for God or care about what people thought. 3 A widow lived in that town. She came to the judge again and again. She kept begging him, ‘Make things right for me. Someone is treating me badly.’
4 “For some time the judge refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t have any respect for God. I don’t care about what people think. 5 But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will see that things are made right for her. If I don’t, she will someday come and attack me!’ ”
6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unfair judge says. 7 God’s chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won’t he make things right for them? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, God will see that things are made right for them. He will make sure it happens quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find people on earth who have faith?”
The Story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Jesus told a story to some people who were sure they were right with God. They looked down on everyone else. 10 He said to them, “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people,’ he said. ‘I am not like robbers or those who do other evil things. I am not like those who commit adultery. I am not even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. And I give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood farther away than the Pharisee. He would not even look up to heaven. He brought his hand to his heart and prayed. He said, ‘God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.’
14 “I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.”
Little Children Are Brought to Jesus
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the babies. When the disciples saw this, they told the people to stop. 16 But Jesus asked the children to come to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. 17 What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it.”
Rich People and the Kingdom of God
18 A certain ruler asked Jesus a question. “Good teacher,” he said, “what must I do to receive eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good except God. 20 You know what the commandments say. ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not commit murder. Do not steal. Do not be a false witness. Honor your father and mother.’ ” (Exodus 20:12–16; Deuteronomy 5:16–20)
21 “I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy,” the ruler said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You are still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
23 When the ruler heard this, he became very sad. He was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him. Then he said, “How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom! 25 Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for someone who is rich to enter God’s kingdom!”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus replied, “Things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything we had in order to follow you!”
29 “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus said to them. “Has anyone left home or wife or husband or brothers or sisters or parents or children for God’s kingdom? 30 They will receive many times as much in this world. In the world to come they will receive eternal life.”
Jesus Speaks a Third Time About His Coming Death
31 Jesus took the 12 disciples to one side. He told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will make fun of him. They will laugh at him and spit on him. 33 They will whip him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise from the dead!”
34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them. So they didn’t know what Jesus was talking about.
A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
35 Jesus was approaching Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. 36 The blind man heard the crowd going by. He asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 So the blind man called out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus spoke to him. 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“Lord, I want to be able to see,” the blind man replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43 Right away he could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
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