Thank you for joining me in this study. In his letter to the Ephesians (chapter 6), the apostle Paul told us what we would need to stand firm in our faith against the schemes of the devil in the evil day and that is the full armor of God, which includes “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” I pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that your faith would be increased and strengthened by your study of the Word of God.
This compilation is the result of a women’s Bible study that I teach. We began studying chronologically through the New Testament in 2017 (and we’re still going). I send out a weekly update of our study. I have compiled, edited, and expanded those updates.
I follow two Bible reading plans yearly, one chronological and one with a daily Old Testament and New Testament reading. I publish those readings, as well as a daily prayer, here. At the start of 2023, I started summarizing what I was reading, and those summaries can be found here. I’ll link to particular summaries, if relevant, as we go along in this study.
I use the NASB-95 translation of the Bible. I use and recommend blueletterbible.org as a powerful tool for additional study.
The assigned chronological reading plan I follow simplifies, by necessity, by having whole chapters read each day. For the Gospel accounts, however, this usually results in different accounts of the same story being read on different days.
My goal in this study is to look at each account of the same story simultaneously, in order to glean what the Lord is trying to teach us through each. Therefore, our daily scripture readings will be increasingly broken up into verse, rather than chapter, segments, explaining our departure from the assigned chronological reading plan, which intensifies as we go along.
I followed various clues in the different Gospel writers’ accounts, but constantly faced the problem of chronology, which then begs the question, “Can we trust the Gospels?” I believe we can, and as we try to piece together chronology, we learn more about the Gospel writers’ different perspectives and goals as they shared about the life of our Lord.
Day 1: introduction to Jesus and to John the Baptist (John 1:1-18, Luke 1) (chronological plans assigned reading for October 1: John 1:1-14, Luke 1)
Day 2: announcement, genealogies, and birth of Jesus (Matthew 1, Luke 2:1-38, Luke 3:23-38) (assigned reading for October 2: Matthew 1, Luke 2:1-28)
Day 3: Jesus’ childhood (Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52) (assigned reading for October 3: Matthew 2, Luke 2:29-52)
Day 4: the ministry of John the baptist and the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18, John 1:19-28; Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34) (assigned reading for October 4: Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3)
Day 5: Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13) (assigned reading for October 5: Matthew 4, Luke 4-5, John 1:19-51)
Day 6: events in Jesus’ ministry between His temptation and entry into Galilee, only covered by John (early calling of disciples, two miracles in Cana, cleansing of temple, Nicodemus, John the Baptist’s last testimony, Samaritan woman at the well) (John 1:35-51, John 2-4) (assigned reading for October 6: John 2-4)
Day 7: healing at Bethesda, arrest of John, early ministry in Galilee (John 5; Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14a, Luke 3:19-20, John 3:24; Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:14-15) (assigned reading for October 7: Mark 2)
Day 8: calling the early disciples in Galilee, Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 4:18-25, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 5-7) (assigned reading for October 8: John 5)
Day 9: healing of the leper, centurion’s slave, demoniac, and Peter’s mother-in-law; and raising of widow’s son (Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16; Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10; Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:21-45, Luke 4:31-44; Luke 7:11-17) (assigned reading for October 9: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3, Luke 6)
Day 10: cost of discipleship, stilling the sea, demon cast into swine (Matthew 8:18-22; Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25; Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39) (assigned reading for October 10: Matthew 5-7)
Day 11: healing of the paralytic, calling of Matthew, questions regarding fasting and eating grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-13, Luke 5:17-26; Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:14-17, Luke 5:27-32; Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22, Luke 5:33-39; Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5) (assigned reading for October 11: Matthew 8:1-13, Luke 7)
Day 12: healing in the synagogue on the Sabbath, withdrawal from the Pharisees (Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11; Matthew 12:15-21, Mark 3:7-12) (assigned reading for October 12: Matthew 12)
Day 13: choosing the twelve disciples, sermon for disciples (Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16; Luke 6:17-49) (assigned reading for October 13: Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11)
Day 14: healing of synagogue official's daughter and woman with hemorrhage (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56) (assigned reading for October 14: Matthew 13, Luke 8)
Day 15: healing of blind man and mute man, beseeching the Lord of the harvest, instructions for the twelve (Matthew 9:27-38, Matthew 10, Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6) (assigned reading for October 15: Matthew 8:14-34, Mark 4-5)
Day 16: questions from John the Baptist, Jesus’ tribute to John the Baptist, call to the weary and heavy-laden (Matthew 11:1-6, Luke 7:18-23; Matthew 11:7-24, Luke 7:24-35; Matthew 11:25-30) (assigned reading for October 16: Matthew 9-10)
Day 17: women, debtors, unforgiveable sin, family, sign of Jonah (Luke 7:36-50; Luke 8:1-3; Matthew 12:22-37&43-45, Mark 3:20-30, Luke 11:14-28; Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35, Luke 8:19-21; Matthew 12:38-42; Luke 11:29-36) (assigned reading for October 17: Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9:1-17)
Day 18: Jesus’ parables (Matthew 13:1-3a,10-17,34-35; Matthew 13:3b-9&18-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15; Mark 4:21-25, Luke 8:16-18; Mark 4:26-29; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43,47-50; Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19; Matthew 13:33-35, Luke 13:20-21; Matthew 13:44-46; Matthew 13:51-52, Mark 4:33-34) (assigned reading for October 18: John 6)
Day 19: Nazareth, martyrdom of John, feeding 5000, walking on water, return to Gennesarat (Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-32, Luke 9:7-9; Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:33-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14; Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:15-21; Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56) (assigned reading for October 19: Matthew 15, Mark 7)
Day 20: difficult teaching in Capernaum regarding the “bread of life” (John 6:22-71) (assigned reading for October 20: Matthew 16, Mark 8, Luke 9:18-27)
Day 21: arguments, healing, and feeding 4000 (Matthew 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23; Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30; Mark 7:31-37; Matthew 15:29-31; Matthew 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-10; Matthew 16:1-12, Mark 8:11-21; Mark 8:22-26) (assigned reading for October 21: Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9:28-62)
Day 22: Peter's confession and the Transfiguration (Matthew 16:13-28, Mark 8:27-38, Luke 9:18-27; Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:1-13, Luke 9:28-36) (assigned reading for October 22: Matthew 18)
Day 23: events and teachings immediately after Transfiguration, including importance of forgiveness (Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-43a; Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Luke 9:43b-45; Matthew 17:24-27; Matthew 18:1-11, Mark 9:33-50, Luke 9:46-50; Matthew 18:12-35) (assigned reading for October 23: John 7-8)
Day 24: Jesus in Jerusalem, including woman caught in adultery (John 7-10:21) (chronological assignment for October 24: John 9-10:21)
Day 25: sending out the seventy, Good Samaritan, Martha & Mary, prayer, more arguments (Luke 9:51-62; Luke 10:1-42; Luke 11:1-13; Luke 11:37-54) (chronological assignment for October 25: Luke 10-11, John 10:22-42)
Day 26: teachings on worry, persecution and readiness; call to repentance; Sabbath healing; more teaching (Luke 12-13) (chronological assignment for October 26: Luke 12-13)
Day 27: Sabbath healing, parables including the prodigal son, and discipleship tested (Luke 14-15) (chronological assignment for October 27: Luke 14-15)
Day 28: unrighteous steward, money, law, divorce, rich man & Lazarus, stumbling blocks, forgiveness, faith, ten lepers (Luke 16-17:19) (chronological assignment for October 28: Luke 16-17:10)
Day 29: second coming foretold; parable of the persistent widow, and the Pharisee & the tax collector (Luke 17:20-Luke 18:14) (chronological assignment for October 29: John 11)
Day 30: Jesus in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Dedication, followed by travel to Judea beyond the Jordan (John 10:22-42; Matthew 19:1, Mark 10:1, Luke 9:51, John 10:40) (chronological assignment for October 30: Luke 17:11-18:14)
Day 31: teaching on divorce, Jesus blesses the children, the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:1-12, Mark 10:1-12; Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17; Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30 ) (chronological assignment for October 31: Matthew 19, Mark 10)
Day 32: parable of laborers in the vineyard, suffering foretold, healing of blind in Jericho (Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 20:17-28, Mark 10:32-45, Luke 18:31-34; Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43) (chronological assignment for November 1: Matthew 20-21)
Day 33: salvation of Zaccheus, parable of money usage (Luke 19:1-27) (chronological assignment for November 2: Luke 18:15-Luke 19)
Day 34: the raising of Lazarus, Mary anoints Jesus (John 11; Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-11) (chronological assignment for November 3: Mark 11, John 12)
Day 35: Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-27, Mark 11, Luke 19:28-20:8, John 12:12-19) (chronological assignment for November 4: Matthew 22, Mark 12)
Day 36: parables: two sons, vineyard, wedding feast; tribute to Caesar; questions about resurrection, greatest commandment (Matthew 21:28-32, Luke 21:37-38; Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-18; Matthew 22:1-22, Luke 20:19-26; Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40; Matthew 22:34-46, Mark 12:28-37, Luke 20:41-44 ) (chronological assignment for November 5: Matthew 23, Luke 20-21)
Day 37: Phariseeism exposed, lament for Jerusalem, the widow's mite (Matthew 23:1-36, Mark 13:38-40, Luke 20:45-47; Matthew 23:37-39; Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4) (chronological assignment for November 6: Mark 13)
Day 38: signs of Christ’s return, parable of the fig tree, be ready for His coming (Matthew 24:1-31, Mark 13:1-27, Luke 21:5-28; Matthew 24:32-41, Mark 13:28-32, Luke 21:29-33; Matthew 24:42-51, Mark 13:33-37, Luke 21:34-36) (chronological assignment for November 7: Matthew 24)
Day 39: parables: ten virgins, talents; the judgment (Matthew 25) (chronological assignment for November 8: Matthew 25)
Day 40: plot to kill Jesus, Judas' betrayal, last Passover, Lord's Supper instituted (Matthew 26:1-5, Mark 14:1-2, Luke 22:1-2, John 12:20-50; Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:3-6; Matthew 26:17-25, Mark 14:12-21, Luke 22:7-13; Matthew 26:26-35, Mark 14:22-31, Luke 22:14-38) (chronological assignment for November 9: Matthew 26, Mark 14)
Day 41: John’s account of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples (John 13) (chronological assignment for November 10: Luke 22, John 13)
Day 42: Jesus’ intimate teaching and prayer with His eleven faithful disciples (John 14-17) (chronological assignment for November 11: John 14-17)
Day 43: Garden of Gethsemane, betrayal & arrest, before Caiaphas, Peter’s denials, Judas’ remorse (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-45; Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:1-11; Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65, Luke 22:63-71, John 18:12-14, 19-24; Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-18, 25-27; Matthew 27:1-10) (chronological assignment for November 12: Matthew 27, Mark 15)
Day 44: Jesus before Pilate and Herod, Simon bears the cross (Matthew 27:1-10; Matthew 27:11-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16; Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-32) (chronological assignment for November 13: Luke 23, John 18-19)
Day 45: crucifixion, burial (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-41, Luke 23:33-49, John 19:17-30; Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:31-42) (chronological assignment for November 14: Matthew 28, Mark 16)
Day 46: Resurrection, road to Emmaus, appearance in Jerusalem & Galilee, Great Commission, Ascension (Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18; Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-35; Luke 24:36-49, John 29:19-29; John 21:1-23; Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:4-11) (chronological assignment for November 15: Luke 24, John 20-21)
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