Category: Bible

March 13, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read.

March 13: Mark 13, Deuteronomy 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 13.  Jesus tells of the Signs of the End of the Age, the Great Tribulation, the Coming of the Son of Man, the lesson of the Fig Tree and the Day and Hour of his return unknown.

In Deuteronomy 6 Moses lays out The Greatest Commandment, he recommends phylacteries to keep them always in remembrance of the LORD and cautions against disobedience. The Old testament law has lots of New Testament references.

 

March 12, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read.

March 12: Mark 12, Deuteronomy 5 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 12 begins with the parable of the unfaithful tenants, then the Pharisees try to entrap Jesus with the question “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar? You know the answer. Then it is the Sadducees turn to entrap him with what happens to  marriage at the Resurrection. Then Jesus answers what is the Greatest Commandment, and answers the riddle “whose son is the Christ?” Finally, looking at temple offerings Jesus notices the widow’s two Mites.

In Deuteronomy 5 the Ten Commandments are enumerated a second time, the first time was in Exodus 20. The people are afraid of God’s presence, but not in reverential fear.

March 11, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only 2 chapters to read.

March 11: Mark 11, Deuteronomy 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 11 starts what is called the Holy Week with the Triumphal Entry. The next day Jesus curses a fig tree (symbol of Israel) and clears the Temple. Following morning the fig tree is withered, and all marvel. Finally, Jesus authority questioned.

In Deuteronomy 4 God promises the people they will enter the promised land, but if they are disobedient they will be scattered all over the earth. Obedience means no idolatry “for the LORD, your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God”. Three Cities of Refuge are mentioned, and a short summary of God’s Law.

March 10, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 10: Mark 10, Deuteronomy 2, Deuteronomy 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 10 Jesus explains the Christian concept of Marriage: One man, one woman, one lifetime,“6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Then  Jesus blesses the little children and says that “, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” The Rich Young Ruler asks what he must do to receive eternal life, but he cannot do what is necessary, so Jesus says ” It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Jesus then  predicts his resurrection. James and John want to be great, but Jesus points out that Greatness comes by Serving and finally Jesus heals Bartimaeus.

Deuteronomy 2 tells of the first 38 years of wandering in the the Desert, the generation entering the desert has died off, then with the help of God King Sihon is Defeated.

Deuteronomy 3 tells how King Og Defeated and the Israelites conquer the land East of Jordan but Moses is forbidden to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

March 9, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are only two chapters to read, but they are big.

March 9: Mark 9, Deuteronomy 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 9 begins with the Transfiguration and an explanation on Elijah, he had already come. Then a boy with an evil spirit is healed and the disciples ask why they could not drive out the evil spirit. Then Jesus predicts his Death and Resurrection but the disciples so not understand, instead they argue among themselves who is the Greatest. Jesus picks up a little child as an object lesson and explains what it means to be a servant of all. Jesus teaches Unity, not division, “whoever is not against us is for us.” Jesus warns of the dire consequences of offenses and tells them to be Salt with savor and be at peace with each other.

Deuteronomy 1 starts with the command to leave Horeb and enter Canaan. Leaders are appointed and spies sent out, but Israel’s refuse to enter the land. The penalty for Israel’s rebellion is that no one would enter the promised land except Caleb and Joshua.

 

March 8, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are five chapters to read.

March 8: Mark 8, Numbers 33, Numbers 34, Numbers 35, Numbers 36, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 8 begins with Jesus feeding the four thousand, the Pharisees are still looking for a sign, but Jesus warns of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, all very confusing for the disciples; they are still not thinking in the spiritual realm. Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida, then follows Peter’s Confession and  Jesus predicts his death.

Numbers 33 is a reciting of Israel’s Journey from Egypt, and provides instructions on how to conquer Canaan.

Numbers 34 defines the Boundaries of Canaan and mentions all the leaders appointed to divide the land.

Numbers 35 names the Cities for the Levites and defines the six Cities of Refuge.

Numbers 36 tells about the Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters and why the Israelite women must marry within their tribe.

March 7, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read.

March 7: Mark 7, Numbers 30, Numbers 31 , Numbers 32, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 7, what is clean and what is unclean? Jesus explains. An example of Great Faith: The Canaanite woman, and the healing of her daughter.  Then Jesus heals a deaf-mute man, and the people say: “He has done everything well.”

Numbers 30 is short, and it deals with what the Law says about vows.

Numbers 31, Vengeance on the Midianites, Return from the War, Dividing the Spoils.

Numbers 32, The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh decide to settle East of Jordan.

March 6, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 6: Mark 6, Numbers 28, Numbers 29, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 6  Jesus proclaims ” A Prophet is not without honor, but in his own hometown, and among his own kin. Jesus sends out the Twelve, and they are amazed and do healing too. John the Baptist is beheaded, by the way the name Salome is not in the Bible. but beheading still fascinates many. Then comes the   feeding of the Five Thousand, and after that  Jesus walks on the Water.

Numbers 28 is all about offerings, the Daily Offerings, Sabbath Offerings, Monthly Offerings, Offerings at Passover and Offerings at the Feast of Weeks.

In Numbers 29 the offerings continue, Offerings at the Feast of Trumpets, Offerings at the Day of Atonement and finally Offerings at the Feast of Tabernacles.

March 5, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are three chapters to read.

March 5: Mark 5, Numbers 26, Numbers 27, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 5 is full of action. On a hillside east of the sea of Galilee a demon possessed man meets Jesus and recognizes him as “The Son of the Most High God” and begs him not to torture him. The demons in the man ask Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs, about 2000 or so. Jesus lets the demons go into the swine, and they promptly rush down the hill and into Lake Galilee and drown. This was too much for the people living in the area, so they beg him to leave. Jesus does so, and he meets Jarius, who has a daughter that is dying. Going to Jarius’ house a large crowd followed them, and a woman with a bleeding issue for twelve years touches his garment. This Jesus notices, and says to the woman “Daughter, your faith has healed you”. While still at a distance from Jarius’ house the news comes that Jarius’ daughter is dead, they were too late. Jesus ignores them, saying: “Be not afraid, only believe.” Then he tells the child “Talitha koum”, she rises up, and that is the end of the chapter.

Numbers 26 contains the Second Census of Israel.

Numbers 27 defines inheritance laws, and it is decided that Joshua shall succeed Moses.

 

March 4, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters to read.

March 4: Mark 4, Numbers 23, Numbers 24, Numbers 25, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 4 starts out with the parable of the sower, and Jesus provides the explanation of it, the key to the parables. Then the parable of the lamp on a stand, not under a bushel, then the parable of the seed in the ground, or the faith of a mustard seed, all parables relating to the Kingdom of God. Finally Jesus calms the storm and chastises the disciples for their lack of faith.

Numbers 23 tells of Balaam’s first oracle, his second oracle, and the beginning of his third oracle.

Numbers 24 continues with Balaam’s third oracle, his fourth, and his final oracle.

Numbers 25 finally tells how Israel went astray in Moab.