Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode: January 13 (Genesis 25–26; Psalm 13; Matthew 15)
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Crossway

Episode Overview

This episode guides listeners through daily readings from Genesis 25–26, Psalm 13, and Matthew 15, continuing the year-long journey through the ESV Bible. The readings focus on pivotal transitions in the patriarchal lineage, a psalmic outcry of distress and trust, and Jesus’ teachings and miracles regarding tradition, purity, faith, and compassion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Genesis 25–26: Legacy, Rivalry, and Divine Blessing

• Abraham’s Descendants and Death (00:04–02:21)

  • Abraham fathers children with Keturah and his concubines but gives everything to Isaac before his death.
  • “Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.”
    — Reader (01:13)
  • The legacy of Ishmael: twelve princes, and the end of his life is recounted.

• Isaac and Rebekah: Divine Intervention and Sibling Rivalry (02:21–03:38)

  • Isaac prays for Rebekah’s barrenness; God answers, and she conceives twins—Jacob and Esau.
  • “‘Two nations are in your womb… The older shall serve the younger.’”
    — God to Rebekah (02:23)
  • The struggle begins before birth, foreshadowing a lifetime of conflict.
  • Esau, returning famished, sells his birthright for stew, despising his inheritance.

• Isaac’s Trials, God’s Faithfulness & Treaty with Abimelech (03:38–07:31)

  • Facing famine, Isaac repeats Abraham’s “sister-wife” deception in Gerar.
  • God reiterates the covenant:
    “‘Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you… I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven.’”
    — God to Isaac (03:53)
  • Divine blessing causes Isaac to flourish, leading to tension and eventual treaties with neighbors.
  • Isaac persistently re-digs wells, symbolizing re-establishing God’s promises and provision.
  • “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
    — Isaac (06:10)
  • Upheaval as Esau marries Hittite women, creating bitterness for Isaac and Rebekah.

Psalm 13: Lament and Faith

• A Cry of Despair, Ending in Trust (07:31–08:25)
  • David voices feelings of abandonment:
    “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
    — Psalmist (07:54)
  • Pleads for deliverance, fearing his enemy’s triumph.
  • Yet trusts in God’s steadfast love:
    “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”
    — Psalmist (08:17)
  • Concludes with resolved praise despite ongoing struggle.

Matthew 15: Tradition, Purity, and Expanding Grace

• Jesus Confronts Tradition vs. God’s Command (08:28–09:25)

  • Pharisees criticize disciples for ignoring ritual handwashing.
  • Jesus rebukes them:
    “‘Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition… You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you… this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’”
    — Jesus (08:43)

• What Truly Defiles? Heart over Ritual (09:25–10:20)

  • Jesus teaches that inner evil, not external ritual breach, defiles a person.
  • “‘It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth. This defiles a person.’”
    — Jesus (09:13)
  • He identifies the heart as the source of sin:
    “‘For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.’”
    — Jesus (10:07)

• The Canaanite Woman: Persistent Faith Outside Israel (10:20–10:53)

  • A Gentile woman pleads for her daughter; Jesus’ initial reluctance underscores his mission to Israel.
  • Her humility and faith prompt Jesus to heal her daughter:
    “‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.’”
    — Jesus (10:50)

• Feeding the Four Thousand: Compassion and Provision (11:15–end)

  • Moved by compassion, Jesus miraculously feeds a vast crowd with seven loaves and a few fish, symbolizing divine sufficiency for all.
  • “And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.”
    — Reader (11:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s sovereign choice and reversal of expectation (Jacob & Esau):

  • “The older shall serve the younger.” (God to Rebekah, 02:23)

• On tradition vs. true worship:

  • “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Jesus quoting Isaiah, 08:56)

• On the nature of defilement:

  • “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth.” (Jesus, 09:13)

• On faith breaking boundaries:

  • “O woman, great is your faith!” (Jesus to the Canaanite woman, 10:50)

• On persistent lament and hopeful trust:

  • “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” (Psalmist, 08:17)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Abraham’s Death & Legacy: 00:04–02:21
• Birth and Story of Jacob & Esau: 02:21–03:38
• Isaac in Gerar and Covenant with Abimelech: 03:38–07:31
• Psalm 13 Reading (Lament): 07:31–08:25
• Pharisees Challenge Tradition; Jesus on Purity: 08:28–10:20
• Canaanite Woman’s Faith & Daughter’s Healing: 10:34–10:53
• Feeding the Four Thousand: 11:15–end

Episode Tone

Maintains a reverent, narrative-driven style. The language follows the ESV translation, blending genealogies, dramatic exchanges, and poetic lament. The teachings of Jesus are direct and provocative, emphasizing the heart’s primacy in faith and conduct.

This summary brings out the interconnectedness of Scripture: the unfolding of God’s promises in the patriarchal stories, the honest struggles of spiritual life in the Psalms, and the radical reorientation of tradition and boundary-breaking grace in the life and teachings of Jesus.