M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 18
Moses Visited by His Father-in-Law.[a] 1 Jethro, the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses, came to know what God had done for Moses and for Israel, his people, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Jethro brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, with him, for he had sent her back to him, 3 and also her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for he had said, “I am a stranger in a strange land,” 4 and the other named Eliezer, for he had said, “The God of my father has come to my assistance and has freed me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, and the sons and wife of Moses came to him in the desert where he was camped, near the mountain of God. 6 He had it announced to Moses, “It is I, Jethro, your father-in-law. I have come with your wife and your two sons.”
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed before him and kissed him. They inquired about each other’s health, and then went into their tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law what the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for the children of Israel, and also about all the difficulties that they had encountered during their journey, and from which the Lord had delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the blessings that the Lord had shown to Israel when he liberated it from the hands of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who freed you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of Pharaoh. He delivered this people from the hands of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is the greatest of all gods because of what he has done to the Egyptians. He delivered them from their hands when they acted arrogantly.”
12 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, offered a burnt offering and sacrificed to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came and ate a banquet with the father-in-law of Moses before God.
13 Moses Institutes the Judges.[b] The next day Moses sat in judgment over the people of Israel. All the people stood before Moses from morning until the evening. 14 Jethro, seeing what he was doing for the people, said to him, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit in judgment alone, while the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses answered his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire the will of God. 16 When they have some question, they come to me and I judge the matter between them and let them know the statutes of God and his laws.”
17 The father-in-law of Moses told him, “What you are doing is no good. 18 You will surely wear yourself out, you and the people with you, because this job is too difficult for you. You cannot do it alone. 19 Now, listen to me. I wish to give you some advice, and God be with you. You must act as the people’s representative before God and bring their cases before him. 20 You will explain the decrees and the laws to them. You will direct them along the way that they should go and teach the things that they must do. 21 You will also choose virtuous men who fear God from among the people, honest men who are not filled with greed, and you will make them leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 They must judge the people at all times. When there is an important matter, they will refer it to you, but they will judge all the minor issues. Thus, they will lighten the burden upon you, for they will carry it with you. 23 If you do this thing and if God commands this of you, then you will be able to continue and this people will arrive in peace at its destination.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s suggestion, and he did what he had suggested that he do. 25 Moses chose capable men from among all the men of Israel, and he appointed them as leaders of the people, as leaders of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They judged the people at all times. When there was a difficult matter, they referred it to Moses, but they themselves judged all the minor issues. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and Jethro returned to his own country.
Chapter 21
The Poor Widow’s Offering.[a] 1 Looking up, Jesus saw wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury, 2 and he also noticed a poor widow putting in two copper coins. 3 He said: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has given more than all the rest. 4 For the others have all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has given all that she had to live on.”
The Destruction of the Temple and the Return of Christ[b]
Jesus Announces the Destruction of the Temple.[c] When some people were talking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and votive offerings, Jesus remarked, 6 “As for all these things that you are gazing at now, the time will come when not one stone here will be left upon another; everything will be thrown down.”The Signs of the End.[d] 7 They then asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what will be the sign that it is about to take place?” 8 He answered, “Take care not to be deceived. 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 insurrections, do not be terrified, for those things are bound to take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
10 Then he added, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be tremendous earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, as well as dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12 The Coming Persecution.“But before all this happens, they will seize you and persecute you. You will be handed over to synagogues and imprisoned, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to bear witness to me. 14 But do not even consider preparing your defense beforehand, 15 for I myself will give you a depth of wisdom and eloquence that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
16 “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 By standing firm you will gain life.
20 The Great Trial.[e]“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you may be certain that her desolation is near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are within the city must escape from its boundaries, and those who are in country areas must not return. 22 For those will be days of retribution when all that is written will come to pass.
23 “Woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing infants in those days. For there will be great distress on the earth, and terrible wrath shall afflict this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and be carried away as captives among all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles have been fulfilled.
25 The Coming of the Son of Man.[f]“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in great distress, bewildered at the roaring of the sea and its waves. 26 Men will grow faint with terror and apprehension at what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, look up and hold your heads high, because the time of your redemption is drawing near.”
29 The Parable of the Fig Tree. Then he told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree or indeed at any other tree. 30 As soon as it begins to bud, you know that summer is already near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.[g] 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 Exhortation To Be Vigilant.[h]“Be on your guard lest your hearts be weighed down by carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of this life and that day will catch you unawares, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone in the world. 36 Be vigilant at all times, praying for the strength to survive all those things that will take place and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”
37 Jesus’ Last Days in Jerusalem.[i] Each day Jesus was teaching in the temple, but every evening he would go forth and spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives. 38 And all the people would rise early every morning to listen to him in the temple.
Elihu’s Fourth Speech[a]
Chapter 36
God Renders Justice to the Afflicted.[b] 1 Elihu then proceeded further and said:
2 “Be patient a little longer while I instruct you,
for I have more to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will take my knowledge from afar
to support my assertion that my Master is just.
4 I promise that there will be no flaws in my arguments;
I come before you as a man of sound learning.
5 “God is mighty and does not recant;
he is great because of firmness of heart.
6 He does not let the wicked live on in all vigor
and renders justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but he seats them forever with kings on the throne,
and they are exalted forever.
8 “He will also have sinners fettered with chains
and held fast by the bonds of affliction
9 after having denounced their conduct
and the sins of pride that they have committed.
10 He opens their ears to correction,
commanding them to turn back from their evil ways.
11 “If they obey and once again serve him,
they will live out their days in prosperity,
and their years will pass pleasantly.
12 But if they do not obey him,
they will cross the river of death
and die as a result of their stubbornness.
13 Those whose hearts turn away from God rage against him,
and they do not cry for help when he chains them.
14 They die in the bloom of their youth
after a dissolute life.
15 But God rescues the suffering from their affliction,
employing their distress to instruct them.
16 “He also seeks to snatch you from torment.
When you were enjoying a life of comfort
with abundant riches and plenteous food,
17 you refused to bring the wicked to trial
or to uphold the rights of the orphan.
18 Beware lest abundance cloud your judgment
and that you not be corrupted by lavish gifts.
19 Bring the powerful to justice, not merely the poor,
those who are powerful, not only the weak.
20 “Do not long for the night
when you can drag people away from their homes.
21 Take care not to turn to evil;
that is why you are now being tested by affliction.
God Is Truly Great[c]
22 “Behold, God is exalted in his power.
What teacher can equal him?
23 Who has prescribed the course he should follow?
Who can dare to say to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Therefore, remember to extol his work
which men have always praised in song.
25 All men can behold it,
admiring it from afar.
26 God is so great that he is beyond our understanding;
the number of his years is past counting.
27 “It is God who draws up drops of water
that he distills as rain to the streams.
28 His rain clouds pour down
and provide abundant water for mankind.
29 “Can anyone fathom how he spreads the clouds
as the carpeting of his tent?
30 Behold how he scatters his lightning
and covers the depths of the sea.
31 This is how he nourishes the nations,
providing food for them in abundance.
32 He holds the lightning in his hands
and commands it to strike the designated mark.
33 His thunder warns us of his coming
as he prepares for combat against iniquity.
Chapter 6
1 As his coworkers, we urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“In an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.[a]
Ministers of God. 3 We avoid placing obstacles in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 4 On the contrary, in everything we do we present ourselves as ministers of God: in steadfast perseverance; in afflictions, hardships, and distress; 5 in floggings, imprisonments, and riots; in labors, sleepless nights, and fasts; 6 in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7 truthfulness, and the power of God.
We wield weapons of righteousness with right hand and left,[b] 8 in times of honor or dishonor, praise or insult. We are regarded as impostors, and yet we speak the truth; 9 as unknown men, and nevertheless we are well known; as dying, and behold we live on; as scourged, but we are not put to death; 10 as sorrowful, and yet we are always rejoicing; as poor, and yet we make many rich;[c] as having nothing, and yet we possess everything.
Relations Have Been Established[d]
11 Paul’s Heart Is Wide Open. O Corinthians, we have spoken frankly to you, and we have opened our heart to you. 12 We are not withholding our love from you, but you have withheld yours from us. 13 I speak to you as my children. In return, also open wide your hearts to us.
14 What Relation Can There Be between Righteousness and Iniquity? Do not associate with unbelievers.[e] For what basis can there be for a partnership between righteousness and lawlessness? What do light and darkness have in common? 15 Can Christ ever be in accord with Beliar?[f] What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 Can there be an agreement between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God, and for this we have God’s word:
“I will live in them and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore, come out from their midst
and separate yourselves from them,
says the Lord.
Do not touch anything unclean,
and I will welcome you.
18 I will be a father to you,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Copyright © 2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.