The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble

Episode: Day 050 (Leviticus 19-21) - Year 8
Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps Leviticus chapters 19 through 21, focusing on God’s commands about holiness, the different types of biblical laws (civil, ceremonial, and moral), and how these apply today. She offers practical insights into the heart behind the laws, encourages discernment, and highlights God's sanctifying work in His people.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiness and the Structure of the Laws

[00:01 – 01:40]

• God is the only one speaking in this portion, teaching Israel about holiness, which encompasses more than cleanliness:
  “He’s talking a lot about holiness, which includes, but isn’t limited to cleanliness.” (00:07)
• God restates elements of the Ten Commandments and applies them specifically to community life—clarifying both “horizontal laws” (man to man) and “vertical laws” (God to man).

2. Applications of Horizontal Laws

[01:41 – 04:05]

• God makes provision for the poor by commanding the rich to leave a portion of their harvest for others, demonstrating His care for the vulnerable:
  “In 9:9:10, we see that God provides for the poor via the surplus of the rich…” (01:50)
• God's heart is shown in commands to avoid exploiting others' weaknesses—e.g., not cursing the deaf or putting stumbling blocks before the blind:
  “Don’t use people’s wounds or vulnerabilities to your own advantage.” (02:20)
• Handling interpersonal conflict:
  “If someone says something negative about another person, they have 24 hours to bring it to that person... It helps us honor each other while also honoring God.” (02:39)
• God emphasizes that actions originate from the heart, and heart motives matter.

3. Interpreting Difficult Laws and Discernment

[04:06 – 06:54]

• The complexity of Leviticus for modern readers is acknowledged.
• Tara-Leigh underscores that these laws required discernment even in ancient times, focusing on the spirit, not just the letter:
  “Even back then, they had to dig to the heart of these commands to see how to apply them.” (04:46)
• Introduction to the three basic types of laws in the Old Testament:
  • Civil laws: Deal with societal behaviors and punishments
  • Ceremonial laws: Concerned with rituals and cleanliness
  • Moral laws: Define right and wrong, reflect God’s character
• Why all three types applied to Israel:
  “There was no separation of church and state in Leviticus.” (05:55)
• Today, civil laws no longer apply as God’s people are multi-national. Ceremonial laws are fulfilled in Christ, but moral laws persist because they reflect God’s unchanging character.

4. Examples and Practical Application

[06:55 – 09:21]

• How to discern which laws apply today: boil it down to God’s motive and heart.
• Example of adultery (Leviticus 20:10):
  • The civil law required death as punishment, but God’s moral standard (hate for adultery) remains; the punitive aspect does not apply today.
    “We keep the heart of it, the moral aspect… But we lose the civil punishments attached to it, meaning we don’t kill the adulterers.” (08:09)
• Civil punishments had historical context (preserving Israel for the Messiah).

5. Priestly Regulations and God’s Perfection

[09:22 – 10:38]

• Chapter 21 covers special rules for priests, especially regarding physical defects.
• The intention was not to shame, but to point to God’s perfection; all priests had to honor God’s holiness through specific rituals. “Everything had to be very specific. No priests got a pass on honoring God’s perfection and holiness.” (10:22)

6. God’s Role in Sanctification (God Shot)

[10:39 – 12:02]

• Tara-Leigh’s key takeaway (“God shot”) comes from Leviticus 21:15:
  “I am the Lord who sanctifies Him.” (11:05)
• God’s continual work in sanctification, not human effort, is highlighted:
  “I’m not left here to pull myself up by my spiritual bootstraps. That is not the gospel. If you’re feeling the distance between his holiness and your uncleanness, take heart. He is at work in you.” (11:24)
• Recognition that seeing our own imperfection deepens gratitude for Jesus’ finished work and God’s ongoing work in us.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Repetition:
  “If you ever wonder why God repeats Himself so frequently, just stop for a second and think about how quickly the Israelites forget. Or honestly, it’s probably just blatant rebellion.” (00:23)
• On Exploiting Vulnerability:
  “Don’t use people’s wounds or vulnerabilities to your own advantage.” (02:20)
• On Conflict Resolution:
  “If someone says something negative about another person, they have 24 hours to bring it to that person… It helps us honor each other while also honoring God.” (02:39)
• On the Nature of the Laws:
  “There was no separation of church and state in Leviticus.” (05:55)
• On Keeping the Moral Law:
  “We keep the heart of it, the moral aspect, to not commit adultery, because it’s clear how much God hates it. But we lose the civil punishments attached to it, meaning we don’t kill the adulterers.” (08:09)
• On God’s Sanctification:
  “He is the One who sanctifies me, who cleans me up. His Spirit lives within me and is conforming me to the image of Christ. I’m not left here to pull myself up by my spiritual bootstraps. That is not the gospel.” (11:15)

Important Timestamps

• 00:01 – Introduction to the episode and main theme
• 01:50 – God’s provision for the poor through the law
• 02:20 – Command against exploiting the vulnerable
• 02:39 – Principle of resolving conflict directly
• 04:46 – The need for discernment when reading the law
• 05:55 – Explanation of Israel’s legal system
• 08:09 – Civil versus moral law example (adultery)
• 10:22 – Purpose of regulations for priests
• 11:05-11:24 – “God shot”: God sanctifies, not human effort

Conclusion

Tara-Leigh wraps up by emphasizing God’s extraordinary effort in making His people holy—His role as the sanctifier—and encourages listeners to reflect on God’s heart behind the laws, the fulfillment of the law in Christ, and the ongoing work of the Spirit.
“He’s where the joy is.” (End)