M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 2
Grain Offerings. 1 [a](A)When anyone brings a grain offering to the Lord, the offering must consist of bran flour. The offerer shall pour oil on it and put frankincense(B) over it, 2 and bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. A priest shall take a handful of the bran flour and oil, together with all the frankincense, and shall burn it on the altar as a token of the offering,[b] a sweet-smelling oblation to the Lord.(C) 3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons,(D) a most holy(E) portion from the oblations to the Lord.
4 When you offer a grain offering baked in an oven, it must be in the form of unleavened cakes made of bran flour mixed with oil, or of unleavened wafers spread with oil.(F) 5 If your offering is a grain offering that is fried on a griddle,(G) it must be of bran flour mixed with oil and unleavened. 6 Break it into pieces, and pour oil over it. It is a grain offering. 7 If your offering is a grain offering that is prepared in a pan, it must be made of bran flour, fried in oil. 8 A grain offering that is made in any of these ways you shall bring to the Lord. It shall be presented to the priest, who shall take it to the altar. 9 The priest shall then remove from the grain offering a token and burn it on the altar as a sweet-smelling oblation to the Lord. 10 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons, a most holy portion from the oblations to the Lord.
11 [c]Every grain offering that you present to the Lord shall be unleavened, for you shall not burn any leaven or honey as an oblation to the Lord.(H) 12 Such you may present to the Lord in the offering of the first produce that is processed,(I) but they are not to be placed on the altar for a pleasing odor. 13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant with your God[d] be lacking from your grain offering. On every offering you shall offer salt.(J)
14 If you offer a grain offering of first ripe fruits to the Lord, you shall offer it in the form of fresh early grain, roasted by fire and crushed as a grain offering of your first ripe fruits. 15 You shall put oil on it and set frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. 16 The priest shall then burn some of the groats and oil, together with all the frankincense, as a token of the offering, an oblation to the Lord.
Chapter 3
Communion Sacrifices. 1 [e](K)If a person’s offering is a communion sacrifice, if it is brought from the herd, be it a male or a female animal, it must be presented without blemish(L) before the Lord. 2 The one offering it shall lay a hand on the head(M) of the offering. It shall then be slaughtered at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall splash its blood on all the sides of the altar. 3 (N)From the communion sacrifice the individual shall offer as an oblation to the Lord the fat[f] that covers the inner organs, and all the fat that adheres to them, 4 as well as the two kidneys, with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which is removed with the kidneys. 5 Aaron’s sons shall burn this on the altar with the burnt offering that is on the wood and the embers, as a sweet-smelling oblation to the Lord.(O)
6 If the communion sacrifice one offers to the Lord is from the flock, be it a male or a female animal, it must be presented without blemish. 7 If one presents a lamb as an offering, that person shall bring it before the Lord, 8 and after laying a hand on the head of the offering, it shall then be slaughtered before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood on all the sides of the altar. 9 From the communion sacrifice the individual shall present as an oblation to the Lord its fat: the whole fatty tail, which is removed close to the spine, the fat that covers the inner organs, and all the fat that adheres to them, 10 as well as the two kidneys, with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which is removed with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn this on the altar as food,(P) an oblation to the Lord.
12 If a person’s offering is a goat, the individual shall bring it before the Lord, 13 and after laying a hand on its head, it shall then be slaughtered before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood on all the sides of the altar. 14 From this the one sacrificing shall present an offering as an oblation to the Lord: the fat that covers the inner organs, and all the fat that adheres to them, 15 as well as the two kidneys, with the fat on them near the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which is removed with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall burn these on the altar as food, a sweet-smelling oblation.
All the fat belongs to the Lord. 17 This shall be a perpetual ordinance for your descendants wherever they may dwell. You shall not eat any fat or any blood.[g](Q)
IV. Epilogue: The Resurrection Appearance in Galilee
Chapter 21
The Appearance to the Seven Disciples. 1 [a]After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.(A) 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons,[b] and two others of his disciples. 3 [c]Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.(B) 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.(C) 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”(D) 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 9 [d](E)When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three[e] large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.(F) 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him,[f] “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.(G) 14 [g]This was now the third time(H) Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter.[h] 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,[i] “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”[j] He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.(I) 18 [k]Amen, amen, I say to you,(J) when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”(K)
The Beloved Disciple. 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”(L) 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?[l] What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”(M) 23 [m]So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? [What concern is it of yours?]”
Conclusion. 24 It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them,[n] and we know that his testimony is true.(N) 25 There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.(O)
Chapter 18
1 One who is alienated seeks a pretext,
with all persistence picks a quarrel.
2 Fools take no delight in understanding,
but only in displaying what they think.[a]
3 With wickedness comes contempt,
and with disgrace, scorn.
4 The words of one’s mouth are deep waters,
the spring of wisdom, a running brook.[b](A)
5 It is not good to favor the guilty,
nor to reject the claim of the just.(B)
6 The lips of fools walk into a fight,
and their mouths are asking for a beating.[c]
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin;
their lips are a deadly snare.(C)
8 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels:
they sink into one’s inmost being.(D)
9 Those slack in their work
are kin to the destroyer.
10 [d]The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the just run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their strong city;(E)
they fancy it a high wall.
12 Before disaster the heart is haughty,(F)
but before honor is humility.
13 Whoever answers before listening,(G)
theirs is folly and shame.[e]
14 One’s spirit supports one when ill,
but a broken spirit who can bear?[f]
15 The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.[g]
16 Gifts clear the way for people,
winning access to the great.(H)
17 Those who plead the case first seem to be in the right;
then the opponent comes and cross-examines them.[h]
18 The lot puts an end to disputes,
and decides a controversy between the mighty.[i]
19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a stronghold;
such strife is more daunting than castle gates.[j]
20 With the fruit of one’s mouth one’s belly is filled,
with the produce of one’s lips one is sated.[k](I)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;(J)
those who choose one shall eat its fruit.[l]
22 To find a wife is to find happiness,
a favor granted by the Lord.(K)
23 The poor implore,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 There are friends who bring ruin,
but there are true friends more loyal than a brother.(L)
I. Address
Chapter 1
Greeting.[a] 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,(A) 2 to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Thanksgiving.[b] 3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,(B) 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the gospel,(C) 6 that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, 7 (D)as you learned it from Epaphras[c] our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Prayer for Continued Progress.[d] 9 Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding(E) 10 to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 [e]giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.(F) 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.(G)
II. The Preeminence of Christ
His Person and Work
15 [f]He is the image[g] of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.(H)
16 For in him[h] were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.(I)
17 He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
18 He is the head of the body, the church.[i]
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.(J)
19 For in him all the fullness[j] was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross[k]
[through him], whether those on earth or those in heaven.(K)
21 [l]And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds(L) 22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, 23 provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.
Christ in Us.[m] 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking[n] in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, 25 of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, 26 the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,(M) 27 to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.(N) 28 It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.(O) 29 For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.(P)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.