M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Parashat Yitro
Jethro’s Advice
18 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, and how Adonai had brought Israel out of Egypt. (2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away 3 with her two sons. One was named Gershom[a] because he said, “I have been an outsider in a foreign land,” 4 and the name of the other was Eliezer because he said, “For my father’s God is my help[b], and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)
5 So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 He had told Moses, “I, Jethro your father-in-law, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, then bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that Adonai had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, as well as all the travail that had come upon them along the way, and how Adonai delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that Adonai had shown to Israel, since He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be Adonai, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that Adonai is greater than all gods, since they had acted arrogantly against them.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, presented a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron also came along with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 The next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What’s this you’re doing to the people? Why sit by yourself, alone, with all the people standing around from morning until evening?”
15 Moses answered his father-in-law, “It’s because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have an issue, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, so I make them understand God’s statutes and His laws.”
17 But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you’re doing is no good. 18 You will surely wear yourself out, as well as these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone, by yourself. 19 Now listen to my voice—I will give you advice, and may God be with you! You, represent the people before God, and bring their cases to God. 20 Enlighten them as to the statutes and the laws, and show them the way by which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 But you should seek out capable men out of all the people—men who fear God, men of truth, who hate bribery. Appoint them to be rulers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Let them judge the people all the time. Then let every major case be brought to you, but every minor case they can judge for themselves. Make it easier for yourself, as they bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing as God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their places in shalom.”
24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses chose capable men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They judged the people all the time. The hard cases they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went on his way to his own land.
Teaching in the Temple
21 Then Yeshua looked up and saw the rich dropping their gifts into the treasury box. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two small copper coins. [a] 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest. 4 For all these put in their gifts from their surplus. But she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.”
5 And while some were talking about the Temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, Yeshua said, 6 “As for these things you are looking at, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another. Every one will be torn down!”
7 And they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, so when will these things happen? What will be the sign that these things are about to take place?”
8 And He said, “Watch out that you are not led astray! For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He’ and ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them. 9 And when you hear of wars and chaos, do not be terrorized. For these things need to happen first, but the end will not come at once.”
10 Then He continued telling them, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes along with famines and epidemics in various places, and there will be terrors along with great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will grab you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, and leading you away to kings and governors on account of My name. 13 This will lead you to be a witness. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare ahead of time to defend yourselves— 15 for I Myself will give you speech and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 By your endurance, you will gain your souls.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter her. 22 For these are the days of punishment, to fulfill all that has been written.[b]
23 “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[c]
25 “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. And upon the earth nations will be confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. [d] 26 People will lose heart from fear and anticipation of what is overtaking the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [e] 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [f] 28 Now when these things begin to happen, stand straight and lift up your heads, because your salvation is near!”
29 Then Yeshua told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 As soon as they sprout their leaves, you see it and you know at once that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these all these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Amen, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.[g]
34 “But watch out so your hearts are not weighed down by carousing, strong drink, and the worries of life. Do not let that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come rushing upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 So during the days Yeshua was teaching in the Temple, but in the nights He went out and stayed on the Mount of Olives. [h] 38 And all the people would come early in the morning to hear Him in the Temple.
Elihu Magnifies the Almighty
36 Then Elihu said further:
2 “Be patient with me a bit longer and I will show you
that there is more to say on God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar;
I ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly, my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Indeed, God is mighty, but despises none,
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not take His eyes from the righteous,
but enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 But if they are bound in chains,
and held captive by cords of affliction,
9 then He declares to them their deed
that they have transgressed arrogantly.
10 And He opens their ear to instruction,
and commands that they turn from evil.
11 If they obey and serve, they will end their days in prosperity,
and their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword,
and die without knowledge.
13 “The godless in heart harbor anger,
they do not cry for help even when He binds them.
14 Their souls die in youth,
their life ends among cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted by his affliction
and opens their ear in oppression.
16 “And indeed, He will draw you from the mouth of distress,
to a spacious place without constraint, and the comfort of a table full of rich food.
17 But you are full of judgment on the wicked,
judgment and justice take hold of you!
18 Beware lest wrath entice you with riches;
or a large bribe turn you aside.
19 Will your wealth sustain you to keep you from distress,
or even all your mighty efforts?
20 Do not long for the night,
when people vanish from their places.
21 Be careful, do not turn to iniquity;
for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Indeed, God is exalted in His power.
Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has prescribed His way for Him?
Or said ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember to magnify His work,
of which people have sung.
25 All mankind has seen it;
people gaze on it from afar.
26 Behold, God is exalted—beyond our knowledge!
The number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For He draws up the drops of water;
they distill rain into its mist,
28 which the clouds pour down
and shower mankind abundantly.
29 Indeed, who can understand the spreading of the clouds,
and the thunder from His pavilion?
30 “See how He scatters His lightning about Him,
covering the depths of the sea.
31 For by these, He judges peoples
and supplies food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its target.
33 His thunder declares His presence,
the cattle also, about what is coming.
6 Since we are co-laboring, we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For He says,
“At a favorable time I listened to you,
in a day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
Behold, now is the favorable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no cause for offense in anything, so that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But as God’s servants, we are commending ourselves in every way—in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleeplessness, in hunger; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Ruach ha-Kodesh, in genuine love, 7 in truthful speech, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report. We are regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown and yet well-known; as dying, yet behold, we live; as disciplined yet not put to death; [b] 10 as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken openly to you, O Corinthians; our heart is open wide! 12 You are not restricted by us, yet you are restricted in your own feelings. 13 Now in return—I speak as to my children—open wide to us also.
Preserving Sanctity in God’s Living Temple
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.[c] For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony does Messiah have with Belial[d]? Or what part does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does God’s Temple have with idols?[e] For we are the temple of the living God—just as God said,
“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.[f]
17 Therefore, come out from among them,
and be separate, says Adonai.
Touch no unclean thing.[g]
Then I will take you in.[h]
18 I will be a father to you,
and you shall be My sons and daughters,
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”[i]
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.