Allowed to Do Nothing for Dad and Mom - Mark 7:12

Mark wrote how Jesus referred to Isaiah's prophecy as He answered the Pharisees and scribes question concerning His disciples eating without ceremonially washing. He said, “Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whosoever curses father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; he shall be free”, and in chapter seven and verse twelve of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes, “you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother” where we read:

And you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

The verse reads, “And you suffer him no more to do ought ...” Mark began with the words, “and you suffer him no more” which means “and the Pharisees and scribes send away, bid go, yield and disregard the child” “to do ought” or “to perform, act and prepare nothing”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” allowed the person who dedicated their possessions to God to do “nothing” at all.

The verse goes on to say, “... for his father or his mother;” Mark continued with the words, “for his father” which means “on behalf of the person's male progenitor and ancestor” “or his mother” which refers to “or the person's female progenitor and ancestor”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” excused those who dedicated their belongings to God from taking care of their “fathers and mothers”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how the “Pharisees and scribes” made a law of exemption to God's law of honoring parents for the person who dedicated their possessions to God. God did not say this. Men did, and whenever a person makes a law that is in direct violation to God's law, that person is erroneous. They have made themselves superior to God who is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He knew people would not only “violate” His law, but also make their own laws that would opposed His. This is why He sent Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of people, and those who “believe and trust” in Him shall not only see the value of God's law, but also inherit “age abiding life” with God.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the Pharisees and scribes how they were, “making the word of God of none effect”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".