M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Pattern of Sin and Judgment

2 The Angel of the Lord^(A) went up from Gilgal to Bochim^[a] and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land^(B) I had promised to your fathers.^(C) I also said: I will never break My covenant with you. ² You are not to make a covenant^(D) with the people who are living in this land, and you are to tear down their altars.^[b](E) But you have not obeyed Me. What is this you have done? ³ Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you.^(F) They will be thorns^[c][d] in your sides,^(G) and their gods will be a trap for you.”^{(H) 4} When the Angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. ⁵ So they named that place Bochim^[e] and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

Joshua’s Death

⁶ Joshua sent the people away, and the Israelites went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.^{(I) 7} The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived^[f] Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works^(J) He had done for Israel.

⁸ Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. ⁹ They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim,^(K) north of Mount Gaash. ¹⁰ That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord^(L) or the works He had done for Israel.

¹¹ The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.^(M) They worshiped the Baals^{(N) 12} and abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods from the surrounding peoples^(O) and bowed down to them. They infuriated the Lord,^{(P) 13} for they abandoned Him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.^(Q)

¹⁴ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He handed them over to marauders who raided them. He sold^(R) them to^[g] the enemies around them, and they could no longer resist their enemies. ¹⁵ Whenever the Israelites went out, the Lord^[h] was against them^(S) and brought disaster on them, just as He had promised and sworn to them.^(T) So they suffered greatly.

¹⁶ The Lord raised up^(U) judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, ¹⁷ but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted^(V) themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the way^(W) of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands. They did not do as their fathers did. ¹⁸ Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with^(X) him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive.^[i] The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them. ¹⁹ Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly^(Y) than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinate^(Z) ways.

²⁰ The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He declared, “Because this nation has violated My covenant^(AA) that I made with their fathers^(AB) and disobeyed Me, ²¹ I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left^(AC) when he died.^{(AD) 22} I did this to test Israel and to see whether they would keep the Lord’s way^(AE) by walking in it, as their fathers had.”^{(AF) 23} The Lord left these nations and did not drive them out immediately. He did not hand them over to Joshua.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 In those days, as the number of the disciples^(A) was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews^[a] against the Hebraic Jews^[b] that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.^{(B) 2} Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters.^{[c] 3} Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation,^(C) full of the Spirit^(D) and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.” ⁵ The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen,^(E) a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.^{(F) 6} They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed^(G) and laid their hands on^(H) them.^[d]

⁷ So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied^(I) greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

⁸ Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some from what is called the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

¹¹ Then they persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!”^{(J) 12} They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin. ¹³ They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.^{(K) 14} For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”^{(L) 15} And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

The Lord’s Negative Response

15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if^(A) Moses and^(B) Samuel should^(C) stand before Me,^(D) My compassions would not reach out to these people. Send them from My presence, and let them go. ² If they ask you, ‘Where will we go?’ you must tell them: This is what the Lord says:

³ “I will ordain four kinds^[a] of judgment for them”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away,^(F) and the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land^(G) to devour and destroy. ⁴ I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh^(H) son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah’s Complaint

The Lord’s Response

¹¹ The Lord said:

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Vengeance

Jeremiah Told to Repent

¹⁹ Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

The Messiah’s Herald

1 The beginning^(A) of the gospel^(B) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^{(C) 2} As it is written in Isaiah^(D) the prophet:^[a](E)

⁴ John came baptizing^[d](J) in the wilderness^(K) and preaching a baptism of repentance^[e](L) for the forgiveness^(M) of sins.^{(N) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(O) were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(P) River as they confessed^(Q) their sins.^{(R) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(S) and wild honey.^{(T) 7} He was preaching: “Someone more powerful^(U) than I will come after me.^(V) I am not worthy^(W) to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.^{(X) 8} I have baptized you with^[f] water,^(Y) but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(Z)

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹ In^(AA) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(AB) in Galilee^(AC) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰ As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens^(AD) being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice^(AE) came from heaven:^(AF)

The Temptation of Jesus

¹² Immediately^(AJ) the Spirit^(AK) drove^(AL) Him into the wilderness.^{(AM) 13} He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted^(AN) by Satan.^(AO) He was with the wild animals,^(AP) and the angels^(AQ) began to serve Him.

Ministry in Galilee

¹⁴ After^(AR) John was arrested,^(AS) Jesus went to Galilee,^(AT) preaching^(AU) the good news^[h][i](AV) of God:^{[j](AW) 15} “The time^(AX) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God^(AY) has come^(AZ) near.^(BA) Repent^(BB) and believe^(BC) in the good news!”

The First Disciples

¹⁶ As^(BD) He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,^(BE) He saw Simon^(BF) and Andrew,^(BG) Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea,^(BH) since they were fishermen.

¹⁷ “Follow Me,”^(BI) Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for^[k](BJ) people!”^{(BK) 18} Immediately they left their nets and followed^(BL) Him.^{(BM) 19} Going on a little farther, He saw James^(BN) the son of Zebedee^(BO) and his brother John.^(BP) They were in their boat mending their nets. ²⁰ Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.^(BQ)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

²¹ Then^(BR) they went into Capernaum,^(BS) and right away He entered the synagogue^(BT) on the Sabbath^(BU) and began to teach.^{(BV) 22} They were astonished^(BW) at His teaching^(BX) because, unlike the scribes,^(BY) He was teaching them as one having authority.

²³ Just then a man with an unclean^(BZ) spirit^(CA) was in their synagogue.^(CB) He cried out,^{[l] 24} “What do You have to do with us,^[m] Jesus—Nazarene?^(CC) Have You come to destroy^(CD) us? I know who You are—the Holy^(CE) One of God!”^(CF)

²⁵ But Jesus rebuked^(CG) him and said, “Be quiet,^[n](CH) and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit convulsed him,^(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

²⁷ Then they were all amazed,^(CJ) so they began to argue^(CK) with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching^(CL) with authority!^[o](CM) He commands even the unclean^(CN) spirits,^(CO) and they obey Him.” ²⁸ News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.^(CP)

Healings at Capernaum

²⁹ As^(CQ) soon as they left the synagogue,^(CR) they went into Simon^(CS) and Andrew’s^(CT) house^(CU) with James^(CV) and John.^{(CW) 30} Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. ³¹ So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(CX) The fever^(CY) left her,^[p] and she began to serve^(CZ) them.^(DA)

³² When^(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick^(DC) and those who were demon-possessed.^{(DD) 33} The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and He healed^(DE) many who were sick with various diseases^(DF) and drove out^(DG) many demons.^(DH) But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.^(DI)

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵ Very^(DJ) early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place.^(DK) And He was praying^(DL) there. ³⁶ Simon^(DM) and his companions went searching for Him. ³⁷ They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”

³⁸ And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach^(DN) there too. This is why I have come.” ³⁹ So He went into all of Galilee,^(DO) preaching in their synagogues^(DP) and driving out demons.

A Man Cleansed

⁴⁰ Then^(DQ) a man with a serious skin disease^(DR) came to Him and, on his knees,^[q](DS) begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”^(DT)

⁴¹ Moved with compassion,^(DU) Jesus reached out His hand and touched^(DV) him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴² Immediately the disease^(DW) left him, and he was healed.^{[r] 43} Then He sternly warned^(DX) him and sent him away^(DY) at once, ⁴⁴ telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;^(DZ) but go and show^(EA) yourself to the priest,^(EB) and offer^(EC) what Moses prescribed for your cleansing,^(ED) as a testimony^(EE) to them.” ⁴⁵ Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(EF) it widely and to spread the news,^(EG) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.