M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 40
God Commands Moses To Consecrate the Tabernacle and the Priests. 1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said to him, 2 “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle, the meeting tent. 3 Put the Ark of Testimony inside, and in front of the Ark hang the veil. 4 Bring in the table and arrange its accessories. Then bring in the lampstand and put on its lamps. 5 Place the altar of gold for incense before the Ark of Testimony and set up the screen at the entrance to the tent.
6 “Set the altar of burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the meeting tent. 7 Place the basin between the meeting tent and the altar, and pour water into it. 8 Set up the courtyard all around, and put up the screen for the entrance to the courtyard.
9 “Take the oil of anointing and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it. Consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will become holy. 10 Also anoint the altar of burnt offerings and all its accessories. Consecrate the altar, and it will become most holy. 11 Also anoint the basin and its base and consecrate them.
12 “Then have Aaron and his sons approach the entrance to the meeting tent and wash them with water. 13 Put the holy vestments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him so that he might serve me as a priest. 14 Also have his sons approach and put their tunics on them. 15 Anoint them, like their father, so that they might exercise my priesthood. In this way their anointing will confer upon them an eternal priesthood, for all their generations.”
16 Moses Carries Out the Orders Received from God. Moses did everything as the Lord had commanded him. 17 Thus, in the second year, the first day of the first month, the tabernacle was set up. 18 Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases and set up its boards. He fixed the bars and raised the columns. 19 He then extended the tent over the tabernacle and over that he placed the covering for the tent, just as the Lord had commanded him.
20 He took the Testimony and placed it inside the Ark. He attached the poles to the Ark and put the seat of atonement on the Ark. 21 He then placed the Ark in the tabernacle, setting up the veil as a screen and hanging it in front of the Testimony, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
22 Moses placed the table in the meeting tent, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. 23 He set up rows of bread upon it before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.
24 He set up the lampstand in the meeting tent, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 He placed the lamps on it before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.
26 Moses then placed the golden altar in the meeting tent, in front of the veil, 27 and he burned fragrant incense upon it, just as the Lord had commanded him. 28 He placed the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle.
29 He then placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the meeting tent, and he offered burnt offerings and grain offerings upon it, just as the Lord had commanded him.
30 He placed the basin between the meeting tent and the altar and he put water in it for ablutions. 31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons then washed their hands and their feet with it. 32 Whenever they entered the meeting tent and approached the altar, they washed themselves, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
33 Finally, Moses erected the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar and put up the screen to the entrance of the courtyard. Thus Moses finished the work.
34 The Glory of God Fills the Tabernacle. Then a cloud covered the tent and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.[a] 35 Moses could not enter the meeting tent, for the cloud had settled upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36 The Guiding Cloud. Throughout their journeys, whenever the cloud would be taken up and leave the tabernacle, the children of Israel would break camp. 37 If the cloud did not go up, they did not leave until it had gone up. 38 Throughout their journeys the cloud of the Lord remained in the tabernacle during the day, and during the night there was a fire in it, visible to all the households of Israel.
Chapter 19
Behold, the Man! 1 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be scourged.[a] 2 The soldiers twisted together some thorns into a crown and placed it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. 3 They kept going up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews,” while striking him on the face repeatedly.
4 Once again, Pilate went out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no evidence of a crime in him.” 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”
6 When they saw him, the chief priests and the temple guards shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no evidence of a crime in him.” 7 The Jews answered, “We have a Law, and according to that Law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
The Second Hearing before Pilate. 8 Now when Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 Returning to the praetorium, he asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus offered no response. 10 Pilate then said to him, “Are you refusing to speak to me? Do you not realize that I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him,
“You would have no authority over me at all
unless it had been given to you from above.
Therefore, the one who handed me over to you
is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 Jesus Is Condemned to Death. From that moment on, Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no Friend of Caesar.[b] Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench at a place known as the Stone Pavement[c] (in Hebrew, “Gabbatha”). 14 It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and it was about noon.[d] Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 They shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” “Am I to crucify your King?” Pilate asked them. The chief priests replied, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
Jesus Is Crucified. Then they took him away, 17 and, carrying the cross[e] by himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, “Golgotha”). 18 There they crucified him[f] along with two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate also had an inscription written and fastened to the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, King of the Jews.”[g] 20 This inscription, in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, was read by many Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. 21 Therefore, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “You should not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man claimed to be the King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate responded, “What I have written, I have written.”[h]
23 [i]When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, one share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was woven seamless, top to bottom. 24 They said to one another, “Instead of tearing it, let us cast lots for it to see who is to get it.” In this way, the Scripture was fulfilled that says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
And that is what the soldiers did.
25 Mary and John at the Cross. Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
28 Jesus Dies on the Cross. After this, aware that everything had now been completed, and in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” 29 A jar filled with sour wine was standing nearby, so they soaked a sponge in the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”[j] Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 The Blood and the Water. It was the day of Preparation, and the Jews did not want to have the bodies remain on the cross on the Sabbath, especially since that Sabbath day was a great solemnity. Therefore, they requested Pilate to order that their legs be broken and the bodies taken down.
32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 However, when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 but one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and immediately a flow of blood and water came forth. 35 An eyewitness has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that what he says is true, so that you also may believe.
36 This happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
“Not one of his bones will be broken.”
37 And again, in another passage Scripture says,
“They shall look on the one
whom they have pierced.”
38 Jesus Is Buried.[k] Shortly thereafter, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to remove the body of Jesus. Pilate granted him permission, and so he came and took his body away.
39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds.[l] 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, in accordance with the burial custom of the Jews.
41 At the place where Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in that garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been buried. 42 And so, since it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Chapter 16
1 A man may make plans in his heart,
but the Lord provides the words that his tongue utters.[a]
2 A man’s ways may seem honorable to him,
but the Lord weighs his motives.
3 Entrust everything that you do to the Lord,
and your plans will turn out to be successful.
4 The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
even the wicked for the day of disaster.[b]
5 The Lord abhors the proud man;
be assured that such a man will not go unpunished.
6 Iniquity is expiated by kindness and faithfulness,
and by fear of the Lord[c] man turns away from evil.
7 When the Lord is pleased with someone’s conduct.
he makes even that man’s enemies friends with him.[d]
8 It is better to have little and be righteous
than to acquire great riches with injustice.
9 A man may plan his own course,
but the Lord makes his steps secure.[e]
The Justice of Kings[f]
10 The lips of a king utter inspired oracles;
he does not err when he pronounces judgment.
11 Accurate scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag[g] are his concern.
12 Kings regard wrongdoing as abhorrent,
for their throne’s foundation depends upon righteousness.
13 Honest speech is the delight of a king,
and he loves a man who speaks truthfully.
14 A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death,
but one who is wise will appease it.
15 When a king’s face brightens it spells life,
and his favor is like a rain shower[h] in spring.
The Path of the Upright[i]
16 It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold,
and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver.
17 The path of the upright avoids evil;
he who treads carefully preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before disaster,
and a haughty spirit goes before a fall.
19 It is better to live humbly among the lowly
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 The one who pays heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed[j] is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 A wise man is esteemed for being pleasant,
and his friendly words increase his influence.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who possesses it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.
23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips increase learning.
24 Pleasing words are like a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and affording health to the body.[k]
25 Sometimes a path may seem to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
26 The laborer’s appetite works on his behalf,
as hunger spurs him on.[l]
27 A scoundrel[m] concocts evil,
and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships.
29 One who indulges in violence entices his neighbor
and leads him into evil ways.
30 One who winks his eye is plotting perverse deeds;
one who purses his lips is bent on mischief.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained by a righteous life.
32 It is better to be a patient man rather than a warrior,
one who controls his temper rather than one who captures a city.
33 The lot[n] is cast into the lap,
but the decision comes from the Lord.
Chapter 3
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.
Warning against False Teachers
Worship by the Spirit.[a] I do not mind writing the same things to you again; it is for your safety.
2 Beware of the dogs![b] Beware of evil-doers! Beware of those who mutilate the flesh! 3 For we are the circumcision,[c] we who worship by the Spirit of God and who boast in Christ Jesus and do not place any confidence in the flesh— 4 even though I too have reason for confidence in the flesh.
Joyous Sacrifice of All Things for Christ.[d] If anyone thinks that he has reasons to be confident in the flesh, I have more! 5 I was circumcised on the eighth day of my life. I was one of the people of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin.[e] I am a Hebrew and the son of Hebrews. In regard to the Law, I was a Pharisee; 6 in regard to religious zeal, I was a persecutor of the Church; in regard to righteousness under the Law, I was without fault.
7 All these I once regarded as assets, but now I have come to regard them as losses because of Christ. 8 Even more than that, I count everything as loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all other things, and I regard them as so much rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him.
I do not wish to have any righteousness of my own based on the Law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness given by God in response to faith. 10 All I want is to come to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share in his sufferings by becoming conformed to his death, 11 so that I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Racing toward the Goal.[f] It is not that I have already attained this or have yet reached perfection. But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ once took hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not claim to have taken hold of it as yet. Only this one thing: forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the finishing line to win the heavenly prize to which God has called me in Christ Jesus.
15 Those of us who are mature should adopt this same attitude. If on any matter you have a different point of view, this too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us hold fast in our conduct to what we have already attained.
17 Our Citizenship Is in Heaven.[g] Brethren, join in imitating me,[h] and take note of those who conduct themselves in accord with the model you have in us. 18 As I have told you before, and now remind you with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction. Their god is their stomach. Their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven,[i] and from there we await our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be conformed to his glorified body by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
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