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 whatsoeuer thou mightest be profited by me: he shalbe 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.
Understanding Corban: 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.
Neglecting Parents: 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 (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:3; Deuteronomy 5:16) and disregarded the duty to support parents in need (Exodus 21:17).
Violation of God’s Commandments: Jesus emphasizes that the tradition of Corban led the Pharisees to invalidate God’s command. By prioritizing human tradition over God’s clear instructions they ignored the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Their use of religious tradition to undermine the Word of God is rebuked as hypocrisy.
Principle of Priorities: 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.
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.
Importance of the Heart: 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.
As you study this passage further and explore related Scriptures, you will gain a deeper understanding of the lessons Jesus teaches about priorities, traditions, the heart, and honoring God’s commandments.
