Mark wrote how Jesus referred to the prophet Isaiah as He told 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”, and in chapter seven and verse ten of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes, “Moses said, Honor your father and your mother” where we read:
For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother;
and, Whosoever curses father or mother, let him die the death:
The verse reads, “For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; ...” Mark began with the words, “For Moses said” which means “because, since and on account that Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “Honor” which means “value, revere and venerate”, “your father” which means “your male progenitor or male ancestor ” “and your mother” or “and your female ancestor or progenitor”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to “God's law” concerning “revering and valuing” one's “male and female ancestors”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and, Whosoever curses father or mother, let him die the death:” Mark continued with the words, “and, whosoever” which means “and whatever person” “curses” or “speaks evil of, reviles and abuses” “father or mother” which refers to “a person's male and female progenitors and ancestors”, “let him die” which means “allow and permit that person to finish, bring to an end, close, expire and be deceased toward” “the death” or “all the miseries arising from sin as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth to be followed by wretchedness in hell”. Mark shared how Jesus continued to speak about the law of God which declared what should happen to someone who “speaks evil of, reviles and abuses” their parents. (See Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9)
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus brought up God's law concerning “speaking evil” against one's parents. Moses said that person was to “die the death” for wicked behavior and attitudes that were against their parents. This is a severe punishment, and one wonders how many children would be alive today if it were carried out. Jesus is making a point, and He employed this “severe law” to reveal how wicked hearted these “religious leaders” were. God knows people have not kept His law, and therefore are “law-breakers”. The penalty for “breaking” the law of God is “death”, and Jesus came to fulfill that penalty by “dying” on the cross. Those who yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” shall know the value of God's law and discover the rescue God provided for those who have not kept it.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the Pharisees and scribes, “but you say, if a man say to his father or mother, It is Corban”, 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".
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