The Bible Recap: Day 293 (Matthew 16, Mark 8) - Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: October 20, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble guides listeners through the events and teachings found in Matthew 16 and Mark 8. She highlights Jesus’ use of metaphor, his ongoing efforts to teach his disciples spiritual truths, the confrontation at Caesarea Philippi, and the significance behind Peter’s declaration of Jesus as the Messiah. Cobble’s tone is conversational and insightful, explaining complex biblical passages in an accessible, practical way while urging listeners to examine their own perspectives on faith, morality, and discipleship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

[00:02–04:10]

• Jesus warns his disciples about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, likening it to leaven (yeast).
  • “Just getting a little bit of their teaching mixed in … will impact the way everything pans out.” (Tara-Leigh Cobble, 01:19)
• Leaven in Jewish tradition symbolizes influence—positive or negative—that permeates everything it touches.
• The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite major doctrinal differences, both focus on morality over transformation of the heart.
• Cobble cautions, “The minute morality becomes the goal, we start to fix our eyes on our actions instead of on the saving action of Christ.” (01:55)
• Moralism can lead to self-righteousness and a judgmental spirit, undermining the gospel’s core message.

2. The Two Food Multiplications

[04:10–05:39]

• Jesus reminds the disciples of the two miraculous feedings (with Jews and Gentiles) to illustrate the sufficiency of the gospel.
  • Twelve baskets left after feeding the Jews (symbolic of the disciples or tribes of Israel).
  • Seven baskets left after feeding the Gentiles (representing perfection/completion).
• Jesus’ sufficiency extends individually and universally: “He is sufficient for each of them individually and for all the people of the world.”

3. Encounters with Hardened Hearts

[05:40–07:14]

• Jesus reveals truths to his disciples but withholds them from the Pharisees/Sadducees.
• Referencing Matthew 7 and Jesus’ statement about “pearls before pigs,” Cobble notes:
  • “Going to battle against a hardened heart is a waste of your time and energy. Not even a good and true argument can change someone’s mind. Only God can soften hearts and open eyes to see the truth.” (06:35)

4. The Two-Stage Healing of the Blind Man (Mark 8)

[07:15–09:10]

• Jesus heals a blind man with spit, a gesture shocking in Jewish culture, to underscore his power to redeem what’s considered unclean.
  • “Jesus can use even the things the world looks down on as a means of blessing.” (08:00)
• The healing happens in two stages:
  • This illustrates the disciples’ own “partial vision” regarding who Jesus is: “They’re starting to see and understand … but not fully. It will take more time, but Jesus will bear with them until they see clearly; he’s not giving up on them.”

5. Caesarea Philippi: The Gates of Hell

[09:11–15:30]

• Jesus leads the disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a site infamous for pagan worship and rumored to be the “gates of Hell.”
  • Detailed description of its dark history: idol worship, bestiality, child sacrifice.
  • “In Jesus day it was associated with extreme wickedness and debauchery … People believed the mouth of the cave was the gate to the underworld. They called it the gates of Hell.” (09:42)
• Jesus uses the setting for a powerful object lesson.
  • He asks, “Who do people say that I am? … Who do you say that I am?”
• Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
  • Jesus attributes Peter’s insight to divine revelation, not human understanding.

6. “On This Rock I Will Build My Church”

[15:30–19:10]

• Jesus’ statement: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
  • Explanation of the wordplay in Greek: ‘Petrus’ (Peter, a pebble) vs. ‘Petra’ (a mass of rock).
    • “You are a pebble and on this mountain I will build my church.”
• Cobble discusses two primary interpretations:
  • The church is built on Peter.
  • The church is built on the truth of Peter’s declaration.
  • Her view: Christ is the true foundation, as supported by other scriptures (Matthew 21, Ephesians 2, Acts 4, 1 Corinthians 3:11).
• “Things built on people don’t last. They have an expiration date … Not to say that Peter’s role isn’t important—he plays a huge role—but he’s not a sufficient foundation for the church.” (17:33)
• Jesus gives Peter significant authority but quickly rebukes him when Peter resists the idea of the crucifixion: “Get behind me, Satan.”
  • Shows how even well-meaning friends can be used by the enemy to divert God’s plan.

7. The Call to Bold Discipleship

[19:11–22:30]

• Jesus prepares the disciples for coming challenges by confronting them in the most spiritually hostile setting imaginable.
• “He takes this trip to the worst place imaginable to basically say to them, see all this wickedness? Not even this can stop my kingdom. Not even this is a threat to my church. My kingdom will outlast everything.” (20:36)
• The “gates of hell” are defensive—not offensive—implying that the church is called to go on the offense, actively advancing the kingdom.
  • “It’s a call to go on the offense because we win. And he’s giving them hope in advance so it can serve them well during times of fear, uncertainty, doubt and oppression.” (21:23)
• Key encouragement: Nothing can halt Christ’s kingdom.
  • “You can be bold in your faith because he’s our King and he’s where the joy is.” (22:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the dangers of moralism:
  • “The minute morality becomes the goal, we start to fix our eyes on our actions instead of on the saving action of Christ.” (01:55)
• On God’s role in revelation:
  • “God has blessed Peter with that information because there’s no way he would have figured it out on his own. God opened his eyes to the truth. That’s what God does.” (13:32)
• On Jesus as the church’s foundation:
  • “In stone masonry, the cornerstone is the most important piece. If it’s removed, the whole thing collapses. Jesus says his church will outlast everything. But things built on people don’t last.” (17:08)
• On spiritual warfare and victory:
  • “See all this wickedness? Not even this can stop my kingdom. Not even this is a threat to my church. My kingdom will outlast everything.” (20:36)
• On the call to action:
  • “It’s a call to go on the offense because we win.” (21:23)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:02] – Introduction and Jesus’ warning about leaven
• [01:19] – The leaven as a metaphor for corrupt teaching
• [04:10] – The meaning of the food multiplication miracles
• [05:40] – Hardened hearts and the futility of arguments
• [07:15] – The two-stage healing of the blind man
• [09:11] – Caesarea Philippi: historical and spiritual context
• [12:40] – Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ response
• [15:30] – “Upon this rock” and interpretations
• [17:33] – Christ as the true foundation
• [19:11] – Discipleship at the gates of hell
• [21:23] – The “offensive” mission of the church
• [22:01] – Closing encouragement: boldness and joy in Christ

Conclusion

Tara-Leigh Cobble skillfully connects ancient passages to modern faith challenges, emphasizing the dangers of superficial morality, the power and sufficiency of Christ, and the unstoppable advance of God’s kingdom—even in the darkest places. The episode encourages listeners to reflect on where their faith is anchored and to live boldly, remembering that “He’s where the joy is”—whatever they encounter.