The Chosen Bible Reading Plan

SEASON 1

The Chosen is historical and theological fiction. While it depicts scenes from all four gospels, it also tells stories, many of which focus on Jesus’s disciples, “the Chosen,” that are not in the Bible.

This reading plan shows which Scripture each episode is inspired by. The plan assumes that the participant will watch one episode of the Chosen a week and recommends five chapters of the Bible to read during that week. This results in one day for watching the episode, five days of reading and one days’ rest each week. Entire chapters of the Bible are read at a time for simplicity and context, although occasionally they contain stories unrelated to the specific episode of the Chosen. By the end of the reading plan, you will have read each of the four gospels up to the point of Jesus’s ministry where Chosen Season 1 ends. You will have also have read other important related portions of Scripture.

You can watch The Chosen for free at https://watch.thechosen.tv/

Episode 1: I Have Called You By Name (Isaiah 43:1; Luke 8:2)

This episode pulls very little directly from the Bible. The verse which inspires the episode is Isaiah 43:1. Luke 8:2 informs us that Mary Magdalene had seven demons. And after his resurrection, in John 20:16, Jesus calls Mary by name. This week’s reading explores the theme of Jesus knowing us by name and begins our journey through the Gospel of Matthew.

WEEK 1 READING: Isaiah 43; Psalm 23; John 10; John 20; Matthew 1

WEEK 1 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “Matthew 1-13,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/matthew-1-13/

Episode 2: Shabbat (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15)

Again, this episode does not pull stories directly from the Bible, but rather explores Shabbat, or Sabbath. Note that in the first century Jewish days started at sundown—a way of living out the rhythm of Genesis 1, “then there was evening, then there was morning.” So, Shabbat began at sundown on Friday, lasting through Saturday, the last day of the week. In this week’s reading, Exodus 20 contains the 4th Commandment, God’s instruction for Sabbath, and Isaiah 56 illustrates its importance to God. Matthew 12 and Hebrews 4 point to how Jesus fulfills the Sabbath. Then Matthew 2 continues our journey through the Gospel of Matthew.

WEEK 2 READING: Exodus 20; Isaiah 56; Matthew 12; Hebrews 4; Matthew 2

WEEK 2 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “Sabbath,” https://youtu.be/PFTLvkB3JLM

Episode 3: Jesus Loves the Little Children (Mark 10:14-16; Luke 5:16)

This is the last episode of the season which does not depict a Biblical story. It draws on Jesus’s teaching “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” from Mark 10:14-16. But beyond showing Jesus’s love for children, the episode depicts his love for God the Father expressed through his spiritual disciplines – reciting Scripture and prayer (Mattthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). In this week’s reading, Matthew 6 and Philippians 4 address prayer, Psalm 19, 2 Timothy 3, and James 1 address the importance of reading Scripture. The Chosen Season 1 Bible Reading Plan is an opportunity to practice prayer and reading the Bible. If you need guidance, review Journey of the Heart: 8 Steps to Bible Journaling.

WEEK 3 READING: Matthew 6; Philippians 4; Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3; James 1

WEEK 3 RESOURCES: Journey of the Heart: 8 Steps to Bible Journaling.

Episode 4: The Rock on Which it is Built (John 1:40-42; Luke 5:1-11)

Now we are off to the races! This episode depicts Jesus calling his first disciples, including Andrew telling Peter about Jesus (John 1:40-42) and Jesus calling Peter (Luke 5:1-11). This week’s readings take you through the Gospel of Luke to the point where Jesus calls Peter.

WEEK 4 READING: Luke 1; Luke 2; Luke 3; Luke 4; Luke 5

WEEK 4 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “Matthew 1-13,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/matthew-1-13/

Episode 5: The Wedding Gift (Luke 2:41-52; John 2:1-12)

Episode 5 opens with a scene from Luke 2:41-52, which we read last week. There were three times a year that all men had to appear before the Sovereign Lord (Exodus 23:14-17, 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16). One was the Passover, and Mary and Joseph accidently leave Jesus in Jerusalem after celebrating it. The Jewish people formed caravans for the pilgrimage, with the women and children at the front, and the men in the rear. Since Jesus was 12, he could have travelled with either group, and both Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with the other. This event is then connected to Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:1-12). Jesus’s respect for his mother embodies the 5th Commandment, “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16). Further, wedding imagery is prominent in the New Testament (Matthew 22, Revelation 19). This week’s reading takes us through the wedding feast in the Gospel of John and covers Jesus’s early life and John the Baptist’s ministry in the Gospel of Matthew.

WEEK 5 READING: John 1; John 2; Matthew 3; Matthew 4; Matthew 5

WEEK 5 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “John 1-12,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/john-1-12/

Episode 6: Indescribable Compassion (Matthew 8:1-4; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:18-26)

In this episode, Jesus heals a leper (Matthew 8:1-4). Then, in one of the most powerful scenes in the season, Jesus claims to be God and forgives the paralyzed man’s sins. Luke 5:18-26 is a more detailed account, and in it Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of Man” a reference to Daniel 7:13. Further, the Pharisees are correct that only God can forgive sin, because the Old Testament defines sin as rebellion against God (Genesis 3), asserts that all sin is against God (Genesis 39:9; Leviticus 6:2; Psalm 51:4; many more) and thus teaches only God can forgive sin (Psalm 103:2-3; 130:3-4; Isaiah 43:25). In many ways, the Pharisees were the good evangelical preachers of their day, who knew Scripture and strove to live by it. The Chosen contrasts the reaction of Shmuel, a non-biblical character who is a stereotype for the Pharisees, with Nicodemus and Yussif (Joseph) (John 19: 38-42). This week’s reading begins with Daniel 7 to give context to Jesus’s claim, then follows the Gospel of Matthew through chapter 9, the forgiving of the Leper’s sins.

WEEK 6 READING: Daniel 7; Matthew 6; Matthew 7; Matthew 8; Matthew 9

WEEK 6 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “The Son of Man,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/son-of-man/

Episode 7: Invitations (Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:1-21; Mark 2:14)

The episode opens with Moses and Joshua discussing faith (Numbers 21:4-9). This is then connected to Jesus’s meeting with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). During the meeting, Nicodemus voices a major Jewish expectation of the Messiah: That the Messiah will free them from Rome. Jesus clarifies that he has come to save them from a much more serious problem: Sin. The meeting ends with Nicodemus enacting Psalm 2:12, “Kiss his son.” The episode ends with Jesus calling Matthew (Mark 2:14). This week’s reading begins with the Old Testament background, then has John 3, the meeting with Nicodemus, and then starts our journey through the Gospel of Mark.

WEEK 7 READING: Numbers 21; Psalm 2; John 3; Mark 1; Mark 2

WEEK 7 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “Messiah,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/messiah/; The Bible Project, “Mark,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/mark/

Episode 8: I Am He (Genesis 33:18-19; Matthew 9:10-13; Matthew 8:14-15; John 4:4-38)

The episode illustrates how Genesis 33:18-19 are connected to John 4:15-26. In the opening, Jacob is shown after having just purchased the land for “Jacob’s Well.” After some background showing that the Samaritan woman at the well is living in violation of Torah (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20; Leviticus 20:10), the Pharisees challenge Jesus for eating at the sinner Matthew’s house (Matthew 9:10-13). This episode, and the last one, explores the cost of following Jesus by contrasting how Nicodemus, Peter and Matthew count the cost, particularly regarding their families (Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:37-39). Later, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15) an act related to the cost of following Jesus. The episode concludes with the powerful scene of Jesus declaring to the woman at the well that he is the Messiah (John 4:4-38). This week’s reading begins with the Old Testament background, centers on John 4, the Samaritan woman, and then concludes with two chapters from the Gospel of Mark.

WEEK 8 READING: Genesis 33; Jeremiah 2; John 4; Mark 3; Mark 4

WEEK 8 RESOURCES: The Bible Project, “Water of Life,” https://bibleproject.com/videos/water-of-life/