Corban - Mark 7:11

Mark shared how Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes, “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”, and in chapter seven and verse eleven of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus told the Pharisees and some of the scribes, “but you say, if a man say to his father or mother, It is Corban” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, ...” Mark began with the words, “But you say” which means “however, nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and the Pharisees and scribes uttered, declared, proclaim and teach”, “If a man shall say” which means “whether a male human being will utter, declare and proclaim” “to his father or mother” which means “toward his male and female progenitor and ancestor”, “It is Corban” or “it is a gift offered or to be offered to God”. Mark shared how Jesus told the “religious leaders” they began to make an exception to honoring their father and mother by declaring “Corban” or what they have is a “gift to God”.

The verse continues, “... that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; he shall be free.” Mark added the words, “that is to say” which means “which is to utter, declare and proclaim”, “a gift” or “a present or sacrifice offered to God”, “by whatsoever” which refers to “through whichever way or thing” “you might be profited” which means “the father and mother may be assisted and advantaged” “by me” which refers to “through the Pharisees and scribes”; “He shall be free” or “the child of the parents will be liberated from their obligation to honor them”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to the way the “religious leaders” declared their “possessions” as “a gift to God” which released them from the obligation to honor and care for their parents.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how these “religious leaders” exempted themselves from following God's law to “honor” their “father and mother”. They would only have to declare their possessions as “gifts” unto God, and they no longer needed to use those possessions to care for their parents. This is a the way “tradition” and “man-made laws” superseded God's in the minds of those who followed this practice. God's law stands, and no one should make laws that are in opposition to His. God created man and He knows what is best for Him. He only provides laws or “rules” that are for the good of man and not bad. He gave His Son Jesus because people were law-breakers and inclined to make their own rules for life rather than follow His. Those who are wise will understand God knows what people need, and the best decision they can make is to yield to the One who knows what is best for their lives.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the Pharisees and scribes, “you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;”, 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".