Study - Reading

The chronological Bible reading schedule and daily comments are taken directly from:
Skip Andrew's Chronological Reading Schedule
(permission obtained).
The daily links are to each day's reading at BibleGateway.com.

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Oct 1 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Ezra 6:16-22; Psalm 146;Psalm 111; Psalm 112; Psalm 113; Psalm 116;Psalm 117; Zechariah 9:1-17; 10:1-12

The first passage is the record of the dedication of the temple in 516 BC.
The Psalms are songs of worship and reverence.
Psalm 146 gives a list of reasons for praising Jehovah as long as we exist.
Psalm 111 shows that it is good to fear the Lord.
Psalm 112 tells how the one who fears God will be blessed.
Psalm 113 praises Him for His many deeds of goodness.
Psalm 116 says, “I love the Lord, and here is why...”
Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible and summarizes the praise Psalms.
Zechariah 9 tells the people that God will deal with their enemies and that they ought to rejoice. Verse 9 is quoted in Matthew 21:5 as referring to Christ.
Zechariah 10 teaches that just as God can punish the evil ones, He can also gather the faithful.

Oct 2 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Zechariah 11:1-14:21

Zechariah 11 speaks of the rejection of the king (verse 13 is quoted in Matthew 27:9,10). Zechariah 12 predicts the great mourning of Jerusalem in light of this rejection of the Messiah (vv. 10,11). Zechariah 13 shows that through the “wounded” One a fountain was opened. This refers to the gospel age. Zechariah 14 predicts the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70).

Oct 3 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Esther 1:1-3:15

The story of Esther took place between 485-465 BC. Another name for this king is Xerxes I. Chapters 1 and 2 show how Esther became queen after Vashti took a strong stand against the worldly desires of the king and his friends. Chapter 3 tells of the rise of Haman, the villain.

Oct 4 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Esther 4:1-7:10

In chapters 4-7, Mordecai and Esther, by the providence of God, are able to overthrow Haman's wicked plans.

Oct 5 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Esther 8:1-10:3; Ezra 7:11-28

Esther closes with the victory of the Jews through Mordecai 5 and Esther.
Ezra 7 takes us to the reign of Artaxerxes (458 BC). In this reading, Ezra receives the decree to go to Jerusalem.

Oct 6 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Ezra 8:1-14; 7:9; 8:15-31; 7:6-8,10; 8:32-36

These readings include the people who went with Ezra to Jerusalem, the preparation by prayer and fasting, the silver, gold, and vessels they took, and the beginning of his work there. The foundation of his work is Ezra 7:10.

Oct 7 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Ezra 9:1-15; 10:1-44

The chapters for today tell us of the reforms and repentance that took place as a result of Ezra's life and teachings.

Oct 8 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Nehemiah 1:1-11; 2:1-6; 5:14; 2:7-20; 3:1-32

Nehemiah begins 13 years after the last readings in Ezra (445 BC). These
chapters speak of his grief and prayer over the condition of Jerusalem and his
commitment to get the wall built.

Oct 9 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Nehemiah 4:1-23; 5:1-13,15-19; 6:1-19; 7:1-4; I Chronicles 9:1-34

In chapter 4, he deals with enemies on the outside, while in chapter 5, he
deals with enemies on the inside.
In chapter 6, he overcomes rumors, and in the early part of chapter 7, he
again showed great leadership by being able to delegate responsibilities.
I Chronicles 9 lists people who lived at Jerusalem.

Oct 10 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Nehemiah 11:1-36; 7:73; 8:1-18

Nehemiah 11 lists people who lived in the area. In chapter 8, the truth of
God is taught by Ezra and Nehemiah, and the people were encouraged to
rejoice.

Oct 11 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Nehemiah 9:1-38; 10:1-39; 12:27-43

Nehemiah 9 is a historic overview of the nation's history.
In chapter 10 the people made a covenant and sealed it.
In the end of chapter 12 the wall is dedicated.

Oct 12 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Psalm 147-150; Nehemiah 13:4,5; 12:44-47; 13:1-3

Psalm 147 is another praise psalm, full of reasons for exalting Him.
Psalm 148 is the basis of the song, “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah.”
Psalm 149 exhorts that various expressions of praise be given to Jehovah, some of which would not be scriptural today (compare v. 3 with Colossians 3:16,17).
Psalm 150 is another praise poem, with several notes about instruments - which were acceptable under the law of Moses.
The other sections from Nehemiah speak of worship in his day.

Oct 13 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Psalm 119

Today's reading is the longest chapter in the Bible, 176 verses. There are 22 sections of 8 verses each, corresponding to the 22 letters (all consonants) of the Hebrew alphabet. In nearly every verse, some reference is made to God's word.

Oct 14 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Psalm 1; Nehemiah 13:6-31; Malachi 1:1-4:6

Psalm 1 is one of the most concise statements of the fact that there really are only two kinds of lives (see Matthew 7:13,14).
In Nehemiah 13, he makes another trip to Jerusalem to lead them away from abuses of the will of God.
Malachi is not dated specifically, but internal evidence (such as, the existence of the temple; 1:7,10) suggests it fits in sometime after Nehemiah. Historical tradition supports this. The message is full of rebuke for sin—the people, although not going back to idolatry—had abused nearly every law of God. In chapters 3 and 4, he gives prophecies of John the Immerser and Jesus theChrist.

As we read the four accounts of the “Life of Lives”—the Life of Christ—we will follow the order given in The Fourfold Gospel, by J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton.

The purposes for this are:
1) this book is excellent and it will be far easier to study it (if the reader owns it) by retaining their order,
2) the exact chronology of His life is not always easy to determine, for the writers were not necessarily writing in exact chronological order at all times,
3) this is a good arrangement, and
4) the parallel records of the same events are grouped together.

Oct 15 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Luke 1:1-4;

Luke's preface states the need for a record that is based on “having had
perfect understanding,” which is what we have in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John. Note that he writes to a man named Theophilus, which means “lover
of God.” Are you a lover of God (John 14:15)?

John 1:1-18;

The “prologue” to John teaches that the Word has the characteristics of Deity
because He is Deity (1:1-5). This Word Who became flesh was introduced
by John (1:6-14). This Word brought the final and full revelation of God to
the earth (1:15-18).

Matthew 1:1-17;

This is the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, the royal line.

Luke 3:23-38;

This is the genealogy of Jesus through Mary, the fleshly line.

Luke 1:5-80

There are several items here, relating to the conception and birth of John and the conception of Jesus in the womb of the virgin Mary.

Oct 16 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-39; Matthew 2:1-23; Luke 2:40-52

Here are the only two accounts of the birth and early childhood of Jesus.
Take note of His enemies and of the friendly witnesses to His birth.

Oct 17 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18;

In these parallel accounts, the writers tell of the preaching of John and its results.

Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23;

Here is the record of the Lord's immersion in obedience to the command of the Father.

Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12,13; Luke 4:1-13;

He immediately confronts and defeats Satan by properly using the Bible to escape temptation (see I Corinthians 10:13; I John 2:15-17).

John 1:19-34

As the transition from the ministry of John to that of Jesus continues, John gives further testimony about the “Lamb of God.”

Oct 18 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

John 1:35-51;

Here, Jesus begins to gather His disciples.

John 2:1-25;

This chapter illustrates two things about the Lord. First, we learn of His power over time and nature in making the wine (obviously non-alcoholic, for if He made alcohol, He would have sinned according to Habakkuk 2:15,16). Second, we learn of His hatred of sin in the first cleansing of the temple.

John 3:1-36;

Here is the discussion with Nicodemus about the new birth, wherein Jesus clearly taught “there is water in the plan”—a person must be born of water before he can enter the kingdom (church; Matthew 16:18,19). We also read perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16), and the Lord's lesson about light and darkness.

Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19,20; John 4:1-4;

Now we read of the reasons for His journey to Galilee.

John 4:5-42

On the way north to Galilee, Jesus went through Samaria and taught the
woman at the well. This passage affirms one of the “I AM's” of Jesus: I am
the Messiah.

Oct 19 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Luke 4:14; John 4:43-45;

Jesus arrives in Galilee.

Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14,15; Luke 4:15;

A summary of His teaching.

John 4:46-54;

Jesus heals the nobleman's son from a distance.

Matthew 4:13-16;

He stops at Capernaum and fulfills prophecy.

Matthew 4:18-22;Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11;

Four fishermen follow Jesus.

Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37;

He casts a demon out of a man in a synagogue.

Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41;

He heals the mother-in-law of Peter (thus proving that Peter was married and not qualified to be a “Pope”).

Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44

Jesus preaches in Galilee.

Oct 20 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16;

Jesus heals a leper.

Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26;

Jesus heals a paralyzed man.

Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13,14; Luke 5:27,28;

Matthew (Levi) follows Jesus.

John 5:1-47

Jesus heals a man at the pool of Bethesda, and a controversy follows.

Oct 21 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5;

His disciples pick grain on the Sabbath and Jesus defends them.

Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11;

A man with a withered hand is healed.

Matthew 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12;

Multitudes are healed by the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16

Jesus prays all night and selects twelve apostles.

Oct 22 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 5:1-7:29; Luke 6:17-49

Matthew gives a full account of the most famous sermon of all time: The
Sermon on the Mount. Luke gives a shorter version which is not identical,
suggesting that the Lord taught these things more than once, which we would
certainly expect.

Oct 23 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 8:1,5-13; Luke 7:1-10;

Christ heals a centurion's servant.

Luke 7:11-17;

He raises a widow's son at Nain.

Matthew 11:2-30; Luke 7:18-35

Jesus answers questions from John the Immerser and teaches a lesson from them.

Oct 24 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Luke 7:36-50;

A woman anoints the feet of Jesus.

Luke 8:1-3;

He travels and preaches in Galilee.

Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:20-30; Luke 11:14-23;

Some make blasphemous accusations against Him.

Matthew 12:38-45; Luke 11:24-36;

A sinful generation asks for a sign.

Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21

A lesson about His mother and brothers.

Oct 25 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Luke 11:37-54;

At dinner with a Pharisee, He denounces them.

Luke 12:1-59;

A long lesson of warnings.

Luke 13:1-9

A lesson about repentance and fruits.

Oct 26 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 13:1-53; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:4-18;

Jesus teaches seven parables, beginning with the parable of the sower.

Matthew 8:18-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

On the same day, Jesus demands commitment and stills the storm of Galilee.

Oct 27 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1; Mark 5:1-21; Luke 8:26-40;

Jesus casts out “Legion” and about 2000 swine rush into the sea.

Matthew 9:10-17; Mark 2:15-22; Luke 5:29-39;

He attends a feast at Matthew's house.

Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56

On the way to raise the daughter of Jairus, a woman is healed.

Oct 28 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 9:27-34;

Jesus heals two blind men and a demon-possessed man who is unable to speak.

Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-31;

The Lord is rejected at Nazareth.

Matthew 9:35-38; 10:1,5-42; 11:1; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6

He travels in Galilee and then sends out the twelve.

Oct 29 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9;

Another of the wicked Herods hears of the work of Jesus and supposes that it is John - risen from the dead! Note also that John died for teaching that there are marriages which must be dissolved in order to please God.

Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:30-32; Luke 9:10; John 6:1;

The twelve return from their mission and they all go to a deserted place.

Matthew 14:14-21; Mark 6:33-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:2-14;

Here is one of the very few events found in all four books—the feeding of the 5000.

Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:15-21

This is the place where we learn about the Lord's walking on the water.

Oct 30 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

John 6:22-71;

On the next day, Jesus claims, “I am the bread of life.”

Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23; John 7:1;

Here is one of Christ's strongest lessons against the teachings of the Jewish “clergy.”

Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30

Now He heals the daughter of the Canaanite woman.

Oct 31 - (Online Reading Links - KJV | NKJV | NIV | NASB)

Matthew 15:29-38; Mark 7:31-8:9;

He heals a deaf man with a speech impediment and feeds 4000.

Matthew 15:39-16:12; Mark 8:10-26;

He teaches again about the leaven (influence) of the Pharisees and Sadducees and heals a blind man.

Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21;

Here Jesus promises to establish His church/kingdom (also called “body,” “temple,” “household,” “army,” vineyard,” etc.) after the famous confession by Peter.

Matthew 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-9:1; Luke 9:22-27

Immediately, Jesus begins to make predictions—with details—of His coming passion.