The Bible Recap – Day 284: Matthew 9, Luke 7 (Year 7)
Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: October 11, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps the events of Matthew 9 and Luke 7, focusing on several of Jesus’ miracles—including the healing of the paralytic, the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the healing of the woman with the bleeding disorder, and the raising of the widow’s son at Nain. She explains the nuances between different Gospel accounts, unpacks the cultural implications of these miracles, and reflects on what these stories reveal about the nature of faith and Jesus’ compassion.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Contrasting Gospel Accounts: Amazement vs. Fear (00:02–03:20)
- Observation: The story of the paralytic man (Matthew 9, Luke 5, Mark 2) is recounted, specifically how the crowds respond.
- Comparative Insight:
- Luke and Mark report, "amazed and glorified God."
- Matthew writes, "afraid and glorified God."
- Clarification:
- Tara-Leigh clarifies there isn't a contradiction:
- “‘Fear’ in Scripture isn’t about terror that drives you away, but awe and reverence that draws us near.” (Tara-Leigh Cobble, 01:10)
- The "fear of the Lord" is closely related to delight and awe for believers—like seeing the Grand Canyon, a mix of humility and joy (01:55).
- For those who do not know God, “the regular kind of fear is fitting because his wrath remains on them.” (02:48, referencing John 3:36)
2. The Calling of Matthew (03:21–05:05)
- Narrative:
- Matthew’s calling mirrors Levi’s in other Gospels, hinting they’re the same person.
- Cultural Note:
- Having two names was common, e.g., Nathaniel Bartholomew.
- Pharisees’ Criticism:
- Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners.
- Quote: “Those who are well have no need of a physician… I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Jesus via Tara-Leigh, 04:30)
- Insight:
- Jesus is drawn to sinners, not repelled: “Look, sinners don't scare me. They're the whole reason I’m here.” (Tara-Leigh, 04:45)
3. Jairus’s Daughter & The Bleeding Woman (05:06–08:10)
- Sequence:
- Jairus, a synagogue ruler, asks Jesus to heal his dying daughter (age 12).
- On his way, Jesus is stopped by a woman suffering with bleeding for 12 years.
- Woman touches the fringe of Jesus’ garment (per Deuteronomy 22), hoping for healing “like he’s a good luck charm,” but healing occurs when Jesus takes action.
- “She’s not fine when she touches him... She isn’t healed until he takes action.” (Tara-Leigh, 07:10)
- Insight:
- The woman is an outcast, rendered “ceremonially unclean,” but eligible for Jesus’s compassion.
- While Jairus’s urgency is understandable, Jesus's detours are part of his greater plan.
4. The Resurrection of Jairus’s Daughter (08:11–09:45)
- Context:
- Professional mourners are hired, indicating death.
- Jesus’s Statement:
- “The girl is just sleeping,” prompts ridicule (08:45), but he is expressing his authority over death.
- “He’s not denying her condition… He’s just saying her body doesn’t have the final word. He does. He made her body.” (Tara-Leigh, 09:00)
- Scholarly Note:
- Some debate whether the girl was dead or near death, but consensus aligns with her dying while Jairus was away.
5. Healing Two Blind Men & Raising the Widow’s Son (09:46–11:45)
- Blind Men:
- Jesus asks them not to tell, but “of course, they tell everyone” (Tara-Leigh, 10:00).
- Raising the Widow’s Son in Nain:
- Jesus interrupts a funeral procession; the widow’s only son has died.
- This is both an act of compassion (she has no provider left) and an unrequested miracle.
- Jesus raises her son out of compassion, “She probably doesn’t even know who he is… But he raises her son from the dead.” (Tara-Leigh, 11:20)
6. The Prostitute at Simon the Pharisee’s House (11:46–13:55)
- Setting:
- A “woman of the city” crashes a Pharisee’s dinner party to anoint Jesus’ feet.
- Insight:
- Jesus isn’t just drawn to sinners—sinners are drawn to him.
- Social Context:
- Simon is scandalized, but Jesus explains the depth of gratitude correlates with awareness of one’s own need for forgiveness.
- Notable quote:
- “The more we can find ourselves at square one, spiritual poverty, the more we’ll be able to grasp all the blessings of knowing Him.” (13:10)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Biblical ‘Fear’:
- “It’s the way we feel about the Grand Canyon… awe and delight and respect. This is the kind of fear we’re supposed to have toward God.” (Tara-Leigh, 01:55)
- On Faith & Healing:
- “If their faith healed them, Jesus wouldn't have had to show up or take any action at all… Jesus is necessary. He has to make it happen.” (Tara-Leigh, 15:00)
- “Faith in my faith is impotent, idolatry… but faith in my God, who is powerful and loves me, is worship. He's where the joy is.” (Tara-Leigh, 16:20)
The “God Shot” – Today’s Takeaway (13:56–16:29)
- Key Insight:
- Faith is only effective because of the object of faith (Jesus), not faith itself as a force.
- Jesus heals people with faith, people without, people who ask and those who do not—there’s “no formula… This is not a combination lock. It's a relationship with a compassionate God.” (Tara-Leigh, 15:35)
- Faith vs. Demanding:
- “If I’m trying to mantra myself into healing, that sounds a lot more like demanding something instead of asking for it.” (16:05)
- God-honoring faith targets a Person, not a desired outcome.
- “Faith in my faith is foolish, but faith in my God… is worship. He's where the joy is.” (16:20)
Important Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------|:----------:| | Introduction & Overview | 00:02 | | Comparing Gospels: Fear vs. Amazement | 00:40–03:20| | The Calling of Matthew | 03:21–05:05| | Jairus’s Daughter & The Bleeding Woman | 05:06–08:10| | Jairus’s Daughter Raised | 08:11–09:45| | Two Blind Men & Nain Miracle | 09:46–11:45| | Prostitute at Simon’s House | 11:46–13:55| | God's Role in Faith & Healing | 13:56–16:29|
Final Reflection
This episode centers on the compassionate, personal action of Jesus, clarifying the nature of faith and the purpose behind God’s miracles. Tara-Leigh repeatedly draws listeners back to the truth that the object of our faith—Jesus—is who transforms, heals, and saves. She encourages reframing spiritual “fear” as reverent awe, not terror, and underscores the relational nature of walking with God.
“Faith in my faith is foolish, but faith in my God, who is powerful and loves me, is worship. He’s where the joy is.” (Tara-Leigh Cobble, 16:20)