Professor Horner’s Reading Plan

Luke 13; Exodus 7; Ephesians 6; Revelation 14; Song of Solomon 3; Psalms 57; Proverbs 26; 1 Samuel 8; Isaiah 57; Acts 1

Luke 13

1There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?

5I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

6He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

7Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

8But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

10Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

12But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

13And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

15The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

16So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

17And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

18Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

20And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

22And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,

24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’

26then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

27But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

29They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

30And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

31On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

32And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’

33Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

34“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

35See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ ”

Exodus 7

1So the LORD said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.

2You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land.

3And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

4But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

5And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

6Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the LORD commanded them, so they did.

7And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

9“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ”

10So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

12For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.

14So the LORD said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.

15Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand.

16And you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear!

17Thus says the LORD: “By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.

18And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.” ’ ”

19Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’ ”

20And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

22Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.

23And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.

24So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river.

25And seven days passed after the LORD had struck the river.

Ephesians 6

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

3“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

5Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

6not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

8knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

9And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

22whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

23Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Revelation 14

1Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

3They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

4These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

5And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth— to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—

7saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

8And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

9Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,

10he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

11And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

12Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.

15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

16So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.”

19So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

Song of Solomon 3

1By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him.

2“I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him.

3The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?”

4Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.

5I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

6Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?

7Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel.

8They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night.

9Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin:

10He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem.

11Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.

Psalms 57

1To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave. [1] Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

2I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

3He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

4My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

6They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.

8Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

9I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

10For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.

11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Proverbs 26

1As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

2Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

3A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.

4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool.

9Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

11As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!”

14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed.

15The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!”

20Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

21As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

23Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;

25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart;

26Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

1 Samuel 8

1Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.

3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,

5and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

9Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”

10So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.

11And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.

12He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.

15He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants.

16And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.

17He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.

18And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,

20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

22So the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”

Isaiah 57

1The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil.

2He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness.

3“But come here, You sons of the sorceress, You offspring of the adulterer and the harlot!

4Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth And stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, Offspring of falsehood,

5Inflaming yourselves with gods under every green tree, Slaying the children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks?

6Among the smooth stones of the stream Is your portion; They, they, are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

7“On a lofty and high mountain You have set your bed; Even there you went up To offer sacrifice.

8Also behind the doors and their posts You have set up your remembrance; For you have uncovered yourself to those other than Me, And have gone up to them; You have enlarged your bed And made a covenant with them; You have loved their bed, Where you saw their nudity.

9You went to the king with ointment, And increased your perfumes; You sent your messengers far off, And even descended to Sheol.

10You are wearied in the length of your way; Yet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’ You have found the life of your hand; Therefore you were not grieved.

11“And of whom have you been afraid, or feared, That you have lied And not remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

12I will declare your righteousness And your works, For they will not profit you.

13When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.”

14And one shall say, “Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.”

15For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.

17For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

18I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners.

19“I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the LORD, “And I will heal him.”

20But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked.”

Acts 1

1The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

5for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

13And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

16“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;

17for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

19And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’

21“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”

26And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.