Daily Bible Reading

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Hosea 2:2-23: Israel’s unfaithfulness to the LORD is compared to that of an unfaithful wife. In Hosea’s time, many of the people were honoring the Canaanite god Baal because they believed Baal fertilized the earth with rain. The chapter concludes with the LORD’s declaration of love for Israel […]

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Hosea 1:1—2:1: Today we will begin reading from the book of the prophet Hosea, a book of fourteen chapters. The prophet’s name is a shortened version of the Hebrew “Hoshaiah,” which means “the LORD has saved.” Hosea preached in the northern kingdom of Israel (c. 740-722 B.C.) and […]

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Psalm 118:15-29: It is thought that this psalm was adapted from a prayer of thanksgiving by an individual, perhaps a king, who was delivered by God from danger. Therefore, this psalm is sometimes entitled “A Song of Victory.” Today’s reading is the conclusion to the psalm which describes […]

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Mark 16:1-20: Mark’s account of Jesus’s resurrection is often referred to as an empty tomb story because of the way it ends at verse 8, with the empty tomb being proof of Jesus’s resurrection. It is believed that the additional ending (verses 9-20) was added in the late […]

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Mark 15:42-47: Joseph of Arimathea approaches Pilate and asks to remove the body of Jesus from the cross. He arranges to have Jesus buried in a tomb. Two women watch and see where Jesus’s body is placed. Scripture Reading The Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27.57-61; Luke 23.50-56; John […]

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Mark 15:1-41: Jesus is questioned by Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Jesus is sentenced to death, and he is tortured and mocked and nailed to a cross. At noon the sky turns dark; and three hours later, Jesus calls out to God and dies. Scripture Reading Jesus […]

God’s Word of Mercy and Forgiveness Introduction Mark 14:32-72: Jesus goes to pray in Gethsemane (an area on a lower slope of the Mount of Olives), and the disciples fall asleep. Jesus is arrested and brought before the Council of chief priests, elders, and teachers of the Law, where he is put on trial. Scripture […]

God’s Word of Prayer Introduction Mark 14:1-31: Two days before Passover, and while in Bethany, Jesus is anointed with costly perfume by an unnamed woman, and Jesus says that she is preparing his body for burial. Jesus observes the Passover meal with his disciples and announces that one of them will betray him. Scripture Reading […]

God’s Word of Prayer Introduction Mark 12:18-44: While in Jerusalem, Jesus continues teaching his followers, and the religious leaders question him about rising from death. In today’s reading, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:4, 5 and Leviticus 19:18 when teaching about the most important commandment. Jesus denounces the teachers of the Law; and while sitting in […]

God’s Word of Prayer Introduction Mark 12:1-17: Jesus continues teaching by means of a parable about tenants in a vineyard. The religious leaders question him about paying taxes. Scripture Reading The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard (Matthew 21.33-46; Luke 20.9-19) 1 Then Jesus spoke to them in parables: “Once there was a man […]