Mark 7:11

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

Mark 7:11 (KJV)

Context

Mark 7:1-13 records a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes concerning the traditions of the elders and the commandments of God. The Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for not observing the tradition of ceremonial hand-washing before eating. In verse 10, Jesus quotes the commandment to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) and the penalty for cursing parents (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9). Then in verse 11, He exposes a tradition that allowed people to evade this clear command.

Meaning

In verse 11, Jesus addresses the practice of declaring one’s possessions as “Corban.” The term means “a gift” or “a dedicated offering.” According to Jewish custom, a declaration of Corban set the property apart for God, thereby preventing its use to support one’s parents or meet other family obligations. The verse itself explains the term, and historical sources confirm that a person who vowed his substance as Corban was bound to keep the vow and could not use it for his parents, even if they were poor and helpless, unless a wise man released him from the vow.

Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees by highlighting their willingness to ignore the responsibility to care for their parents in the name of Corban. By declaring possessions as Corban, they neglected the commandment to honor father and mother and disregarded the duty to support parents in need. Dedicating property to God is lawful, but not at the expense of filial duty. The tradition of Corban led the Pharisees to invalidate God’s command, making the word of God of no effect through human tradition (Mark 7:13). Their use of religious tradition to undermine the Word of God is rebuked as hypocrisy.

One underlying principle Jesus teaches is the importance of placing God’s commandments above human traditions. While traditions can be valuable, they must never supersede or contradict God’s clear instructions. The Pharisees had distorted the intent of Corban to avoid family obligations, showing the need to align actions with the core principles of Scripture.

Biblical connections

The parallel passage in Matthew 15:5-6 reinforces this teaching, showing that Jesus considered this tradition a violation of the commandment to honor parents. In the broader context of Mark 7, Jesus teaches that external rituals are meaningless if they do not reflect the condition of the heart. True defilement comes from within, from sinful inclinations, rather than from external factors (Mark 7:15). Thus this passage underscores that God cares about the state of our hearts and desires genuine obedience and righteousness.

Application

Mark 7:11 challenges believers to examine whether their actions align with God’s commandments or whether human traditions or personal preferences are taking precedence. It reminds us of the importance of honoring our parents, fulfilling familial responsibilities, and embodying justice, mercy, and faithfulness in our relationships. This passage warns against using religious practices to avoid moral obligations, and it emphasizes that human traditions must never override the clear commands of God.

Reflection

Consider whether any tradition, religious practice, or personal preference has become a way to avoid a clear biblical duty. God calls His people to genuine obedience that flows from a heart transformed by His Word, not to rituals that excuse neglect of His commands.