This Bible reading plan takes you through most of the Holy Scriptures each weekday of the year. Each day has three Bible readings:
You're welcome to read one, two, or all three of the readings every weekday. And if you fall behind, don’t worry! You can either use the weekends to catch up or you can simply dive in to the reading for that day, even if you’ve missed a few days, weeks, or even months!
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2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,1
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.2 That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,3 12 saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
[1] 2:7
[2] 2:11
[3] 2:11
(ESV)
My wife Melody's self control is impressive, especially this time of year. Over these next few weeks, she and I will be attending several Christmas parties, all of which are bound to have a wide array of holiday treats and eats, from Christmas cookies to cakes to brownies to fudge. It is in these times that Melody's willpower most clearly shines through. With a table of caloric temptation spread before her, she grabs a plate and takes hardly a thing. When I ask her, "Don't you want some more to eat?" her response is inevitably, "No, I just want a taste." Just a taste? Just a taste of gooey chocolate chip cookies? Just a taste of melt-in-your-mouth delectable fudge?
Unfortunately, I do not share Melody's self-control when it comes to food. To quote the old Lays Potato Chip slogan, "No one can eat just one." This is most certainly true of me. If one piece of fudge is good, two must be better. My plate will probably wind up piled all too high at these yuletide galas.
In our reading for today from Hebrews 2, Jesus takes just a taste. But the taste that he takes is not of some holiday treat, but of a dreadful death: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" (verse 9). Jesus, the author of Hebrews says, is our "taste-tester." And he has tasted the bitter plate of death for you and for me.
But how can a person just "taste" death? After all, death is not exactly something you can sample to see if it's to your liking. No, once you die, you have ingested the totality of death. No leftovers of life remain.
But with Jesus things are different. For Jesus did indeed die, but he did not stay that way. His death was just a taste of death, for life awaited three days later. And by his death and resurrection, Jesus also managed to destroy the very chef of death, Satan himself. As the author of Hebrews says: "By his death Christ destroyed him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil" (verse 14). And now the promise is that because Jesus has tasted the eternal death of hell for us, we will never have to: "If anyone keeps my word, he will nevertaste death" (John 8:52). Jesus has tasted - and trampled - death's diner of hell.
Now, in Christ, we are invited to another taste. But this taste is a taste of life: "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8). Our Lord invites us to taste his goodness, savor his life, and sample his salvation. We can taste him in his Word, which is food for our souls (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3). We can taste him in Communion as he comes to us with his body and blood (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). And one day, we will taste with him in a heavenly feast that will have no end (cf. Revelation 19:9). This is the glorious taste of God. And the best part is, you don't just have to have a taste. Go ahead, devour everything on your plate. After all, it's definitely good for you.
19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows.1 And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
3:1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained2 to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy3 all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents4 of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”
12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.
4:1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction,5 that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him6 on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”7 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
[1] 2:23
[2] 3:6
[3] 3:6
[4] 3:9
[5] 4:8
[6] 4:8
[7] 4:16
(ESV)
Esther is the only book of the Bible that never mentions God. This was a deliberate omission, intended to help us see God at work in our lives, even when His presence is not obvious. Throughout the story of Esther God is clearly at work to rescue His people. Just as God was at work to have Esther chosen as queen, so He was at work in strategically placing Mordecai so that he could overhear a plot to assassinate King Xerxes. Mordecai informed Esther who warned the king, giving credit to Mordecai. An investigation was conducted and the conspirators were executed. At this point the villain of the story is introduced. Haman was an Agagite, which may explain his hatred for the Jews. King Saul destroyed the Amalekites and took their king, Agag prisoner before killing him. (His title may also refer to a Persian district identified as Agag.) When Haman was exalted to the highest office below the King, he demanded homage be paid to him that Mordecai's conscience would not permit him to give. It may have involved an act that implied worship, which the faithful Jew Mordecai would render only to the LORD. Haman was incensed and determined to kill not just Mordecai but all the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Lots were cast and a day was chosen to eradicate the Jews. Haman then went to King Xerxes on his xenophobic mission and sought the king's approval. He even offered a huge reward from his own wealth to those who would carry out the king's edict. Xerxes didn't care about the exiles, and by giving Haman his signet ring, authorized him to order the destruction of the Jews. The decree was written as law in the language of every province and sealed with the king's ring. When the decree was issued King Xerxes and Haman celebrated, but the citizens of Susa were puzzled by such a pronouncement. Mordecai went into mourning as soon as he learned of the edict. All the Jews fasted and prayed. Queen Esther was still unaware of the decree when she heard of Mordecai's mourning. One of her attendants went to Mordecai and returned with news of the plot to annihilate the Jews. He told Queen Esther that Mordecai wanted her to go to the King and plead with him on behalf of her people. In response, Esther reminded Mordecai that no one could approach the king unless summoned by him. If he did not extend his royal scepter to welcome that person, they could be put to death. Mordecai warned Esther that she would not escape just because she was a member of the royal household. Confident that God would rescue His people in some manner, Mordecai warned that if she kept silent, Esther and her father's family would surely perish. Then Mordecai reminded her, "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Queen Esther asked Mordecai and all the Jews in Susa to join her and her attendants in three days of fasting and prayer, "Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther decided that she should fear God, rather than man.
14 If you strike him with the rod,
you will save his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart too will be glad.
16 My inmost being1 will exult
when your lips speak what is right.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners,
but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
18 Surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Hear, my son, and be wise,
and direct your heart in the way.
20 Be not among drunkards2
or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and slumber will clothe them with rags.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe3 my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit;
an adulteress4 is a narrow well.
28 She lies in wait like a robber
and increases the traitors among mankind.
[1] 23:16
[2] 23:20
[3] 23:26
[4] 23:27
(ESV)