Abide | 6 Months in the New Testament - Daily Readings From the Bible Sample

Prayer

You’ll take a few minutes to read through today’s passages in just a moment. Before you do, start with a simple prayer like this:

“God, I invite you into this moment and ask that you open my heart to Your Word. Help me to know you deeply through it, and let your truth transform my heart, mind, and soul today.”

Once you finish your reading, take a few moments to walk through P.R.A.Y.

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P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in.

R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down.

A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that?

Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into His beautiful plan for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently; understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine.

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Some Context on Matthew

Who Wrote the Book of Matthew?

While the book itself is anonymous, the earliest reliable Christian tradition links it to Matthew, a tax collector and disciple of Jesus.

Who was Matthew writing for?

Matthew's gospel is clearly written for a Jewish Christian audience living within the immediate proximity of the homeland itself. Matthew's is the most Jewish of all the gospels. The community for which Matthew was written was a Jewish Christian community that was encountering some new tensions in the period of reconstruction after the first revolt. It would appear that they've been there for quite some time.

Context

The events described in Matthew take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire during the early 1st century, between 10 B.C.E. and 40 C.E. The book was likely composed between 50 and 90 C.E.

Literary Styles

The book of Matthew is written in narrative, along with some discourse sections.

Key Themes

1. God’s blessing to Israel and the nations
2. God's closeness to his people
3. Hope for and life within the messianic Kingdom of God

Structure

Matthew is divided into seven parts. Chapters 1-3 and 4-7 introduce Jesus as Messiah and God's Kingdom. Chapters 8-10, 11-13, and 14-20 invite people into the Kingdom's power. Chapters 21-25 and 26-28 conclude with Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

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Some Context on Mark

Who Wrote the Book of Mark?

The earliest historical traditions available link this book to a Christian scribe named Mark or John Mark.

Who was the Book of Mark written for?

Mark’s gospel seems to have been originally intended for Gentile converts to Christianity, perhaps specifically in Rome. Mark gives a detailed explanation of Jewish customs, and his linguistic preferences denote a non-Jewish audience.

Context

The events described in Mark take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire during the early 1st century, between 10-40 C.E. Mark was likely composed between 50 and 70 C.E.

Literary Styles

The book of Mark is written in narrative, along with some discourse sections.

Key Themes

1. The good news of the Kingdom of God
2. Jesus of Nazareth as the suffering servant
3. The invitation to follow the Messiah

Structure

Mark is divided into four parts. Mark 1:1-8:26 shows the mixed reactions to Jesus’ message. Chapters 8:27-10 present Jesus as the Messiah. 11-16 detail Jesus’ persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection. And 16:9-20 is a longer ending found in later manuscripts.