M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Tola and Jair
10 After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo became judge and began to deliver Israel. He was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 Tola judged Israel 23 years and when he died, was buried in Shamir.
3 After him came Jair the Gileadite,(A) who judged Israel 22 years. 4 He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. They had 30 towns[a] in Gilead, which are called Jair’s Villages[b] to this day. 5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.
Israel’s Rebellion and Repentance
6 Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.(B) They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines.(C) They abandoned Yahweh and did not worship Him.(D) 7 So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He sold them to[c] the Philistines and the Ammonites. 8 They shattered and crushed the Israelites that year, and for 18 years they did the same to all the Israelites who were on the other side of the Jordan(E) in the land of the Amorites(F) in Gilead. 9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. Israel was greatly oppressed, 10 so they cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You.(G) We have abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals.”
11 The Lord said to the Israelites, “When the Egyptians,(H) Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, 12 Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites[d](I) oppressed you, and you cried out to Me, did I not deliver you from their power? 13 But you have abandoned Me and worshiped other gods. Therefore, I will not deliver you again. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen.(J) Let them deliver you in the time of your oppression.”
15 But the Israelites said, “We have sinned. Deal with us as You see fit;[e] only deliver us(K) today!” 16 So they got rid of the foreign gods(L) among them and worshiped the Lord,(M) and He became weary(N) of Israel’s misery.
17 The Ammonites were called together, and they camped in Gilead. So the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.(O) 18 The rulers[f] of Gilead said to one another, “Which man will lead the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
Jephthah Becomes Israel’s Leader
11 Jephthah(P) the Gileadite was a great warrior,(Q) but he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. 2 Gilead’s wife bore him sons, and when they grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob.(R) Then some lawless men joined Jephthah and traveled with him.
4 Some time later, the Ammonites fought against Israel. 5 When the Ammonites made war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 They said to him, “Come, be our commander, and let’s fight against the Ammonites.”
7 Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now when you’re in trouble?”
8 They answered Jephthah, “Since that’s true, we now turn to you. Come with us, fight the Ammonites, and you will become leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
9 So Jephthah said to them, “If you are bringing me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your leader.”
10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord is our witness if we don’t do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people put him over themselves as leader and commander, and Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the Lord at Mizpah.
Growth and Persecution in Iconium
14 The same thing happened in Iconium; they entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.(A) 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.(B) 3 So they stayed there for some time and spoke boldly in reliance on the Lord, who testified to the message of His grace by granting that signs and wonders be performed through them.(C) 4 But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles.(D) 5 When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to assault and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns called Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding countryside.(E) 7 And there they kept evangelizing.(F)
Mistaken for Gods in Lystra
8 In Lystra a man without strength in his feet, lame from birth,[a] and who had never walked, sat 9 and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” And he jumped up and started to walk around.(G)
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!”(H) 12 And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. He, with the crowds, intended to offer sacrifice.
14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:(I) 15 “Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things(J) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.(K)[b] 16 In past generations He allowed all the nations(L) to go their own way, 17 although He did not leave Himself without a witness,(M) since He did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons(N) and satisfying your[c] hearts with food and happiness.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.(O) 20 After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.(P)
Church Planting
21 After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,(Q) 22 strengthening the[d] disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith(R) and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles(S) on our way into the kingdom of God.”
23 When they had appointed elders(T) in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they spoke the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.(U) 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them(V) and that He had opened the door(W) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time[e] with the disciples.
The Lord and His Sheep
23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!”(A) This is the Lord’s declaration. 2 “Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who shepherd My people: You have scattered My flock, banished them, and have not attended to them.(B) I will attend to you because of your evil acts”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 3 “I will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands where I have banished them, and I will return them to their grazing land. They will become fruitful and numerous.(C) 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them.(D) They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any be missing.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
The Righteous Branch of David
5 “The days are coming”(E)—this is the Lord’s declaration—
“when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David.(F)
He will reign wisely as king
and administer justice and righteousness in the land.(G)
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely.(H)
This is what He will be named:
Yahweh Our Righteousness.(I)
7 “The days are coming”—the Lord’s declaration—“when it will no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt,’(J) 8 but, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other countries where I[a] had banished them.’ They will dwell once more in their own land.”(K)
False Prophets Condemned
9 Concerning the prophets:
My heart is broken within me,(L)
and all my bones tremble.
I have become like a drunkard,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord,
because of His holy words.
10 For the land is full of adulterers;(M)
the land mourns because of the curse,
and the grazing lands in the wilderness have dried up.
Their way of life[b] has become evil,
and their power is not rightly used
11 because both prophet and priest are ungodly,(N)
even in My house I have found their evil.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
12 Therefore, their way will be to them
like slippery paths in the gloom.(O)
They will be driven away and fall down there,
for I will bring disaster on them,
the year of their punishment.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
13 Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw something disgusting:
They prophesied by[c] Baal
and led My people Israel astray.(P)
14 Among the prophets of Jerusalem also
I saw a horrible thing:
They commit adultery and walk in lies.
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,
and none turns his back on evil.
They are all like Sodom(Q) to Me;
Jerusalem’s residents are like Gomorrah.
15 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says concerning the prophets:
I am about to feed them wormwood
and give them poisoned water to drink,(R)
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness[d] has spread throughout the land.
16 This is what the Lord of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are making you worthless. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the Lord’s mouth. 17 They keep on saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said: You will have peace.’(S) They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’”
18 For who has stood in the council(T) of the Lord
to see and hear His word?
Who has paid attention to His word and obeyed?
19 Look, a storm from the Lord!(U)
Wrath has gone out,
a whirling storm.
It will whirl about the heads of the wicked.
20 The Lord’s anger will not turn back
until He has completely fulfilled the purposes of His heart.
In time to come you will understand it clearly.(V)
21 I did not send these prophets,(W)
yet they ran with a message.
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
22 If they had really stood in My council,
they would have enabled My people to hear My words
and would have turned them back from their evil ways
and their evil deeds.
23 “Am I a God who is only near”(X)—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him?”(Y)—the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?”(Z)—the Lord’s declaration.
25 “I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in My name have said, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? 27 Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship.(AA) 28 The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 29 “Is not My word like fire”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and like a hammer that pulverizes rock? 30 Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets”(AB)—the Lord’s declaration—“who steal My words from each other. 31 I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who use their own tongues to make a declaration. 32 I am against those who prophesy false dreams”(AC)—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading My people astray with their falsehoods and their boasting. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all(AD) to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.
The Burden of the Lord
33 “Now when these people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you will respond to them: What is the burden? I will throw you away”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 34 “As for the prophet, priest, or people who say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household. 35 This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But no longer refer to[e] the burden of the Lord, for each man’s word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Hosts, our God. 37 You must say to the prophet: What has the Lord answered you? and What has the Lord spoken? 38 But if you say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ then this is what the Lord says: Because you have said, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ and I specifically told you not to say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ 39 I will surely forget you[f] and throw away from My presence both you and the city that I gave you and your fathers. 40 I will bring on you everlasting shame and humiliation(AE) that will never be forgotten.”
9 Then He said to them, “I assure you:(A) There are some standing here who will not taste death(B) until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”(C)
The Transfiguration
2 After(D) six days(E) Jesus took Peter, James, and John(F) and led them up on a high mountain(G) by themselves to be alone. He was transformed[a](H) in front of them, 3 and His clothes(I) became dazzling—extremely white(J) as no launderer on earth could whiten(K) them. 4 Elijah(L) appeared to them with Moses,(M) and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,(N) it’s good(O) for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:(P) one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what he should say,(Q) since they were terrified.(R)
7 A cloud(S) appeared, overshadowing(T) them, and a voice(U) came from the cloud:(V)
8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.
9 As(Z) they were coming down from the mountain,(AA) He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen(AB) until the Son of Man(AC) had risen(AD) from the dead.(AE) 10 They kept this word(AF) to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 Then they began to question Him, “Why do the scribes(AG) say that Elijah must come first?”(AH)
12 “Elijah does come first and restores(AI) everything,”(AJ) He replied. “How then is it written(AK) about the Son of Man that He must suffer(AL) many things and be treated with contempt?(AM) 13 But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written(AN) about him.”
The Power of Faith over a Demon
14 When(AO) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing(AP) with them. 15 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed[b] and ran to greet Him. 16 Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”
17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,(AQ) I brought my son to You. He has a spirit(AR) that makes him unable to speak.(AS) 18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving(AT) generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.
“From childhood,” he said. 22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy(AU) him. But if You can do anything, have compassion(AV) on us and help us.”
23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’?[c][d] Everything is possible(AW) to the one who believes.”(AX)
24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked(AY) the unclean(AZ) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf(BA) spirit,[e] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”
26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing(BB) him[f] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,(BC) and he stood up.
28 After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer(BD) [and fasting].”[g](BE)
The Second Prediction of His Death
30 Then(BF) they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.(BG) 31 For He was teaching(BH) His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man(BI) is being betrayed[h] into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise(BJ) three days later.”(BK) 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.(BL)
Who is the Greatest?
33 Then(BM) they came to Capernaum.(BN) When He was in the house,(BO) He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”(BP) 34 But they were silent,(BQ) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.(BR) 35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve(BS) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”(BT) 36 Then He took a child,(BU) had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes[i] one little child such as this in My name(BV) welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent(BW) Me.”(BX)
In His Name
38 John(BY) said to Him, “Teacher,(BZ) we saw someone[j] driving out demons(CA) in Your name,(CB) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”(CC)
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle(CD) in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.(CE) 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink(CF) because of My name,[k] since you belong to the Messiah(CG)—I assure you:(CH) He will never lose his reward.(CI)
Warnings from Jesus
42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me(CJ)—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone[l](CK) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off.(CL) It is better for you to enter life maimed(CM) than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire,(CN) [44 where
45 And if your foot causes your downfall,(CP) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame(CQ) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire,(CR) 46 where
47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God(CT) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown(CU) into hell,(CV) 48 where
Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.[q]
49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[r](CW)[s] 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty?(CX) Have salt(CY) among yourselves and be at peace(CZ) with one another.”
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