This verse, Mark 7:11, is part of Jesus's criticism of the Pharisees and scribes for prioritizing their own traditions over God's commandments. It illustrates a specific example of how they were undermining the commandment to honor one's parents. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother…'": Jesus is pointing out a practice they were advocating or allowing.
"…'Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;…'": This is the core of the issue.
"Corban": This is an Aramaic word meaning "a gift dedicated to God" or "a sacred offering."
"Whatever profit you might have received from me": This refers to any financial support, assistance, or benefit that the son might have provided to his parents.
The man is declaring that whatever support he could have given to his parents is now designated as "Corban" – a gift to God.
Implication: By declaring his resources as "Corban," the man was essentially claiming that those resources were now set aside for God and could no longer be used to support his parents. This effectively relieved him of the responsibility of caring for them.
In Essence:
The verse describes a loophole the religious leaders were exploiting. They allowed people to evade their responsibility to care for their aging parents by declaring their resources as "Corban" – dedicated to God. This declaration, in their interpretation, superseded the biblical commandment to honor one's father and mother.
Jesus's Point:
Jesus is condemning this practice because it puts a man-made tradition (declaring something "Corban") above a clear commandment of God (honoring parents). He argues that their tradition effectively nullifies God's law and prioritizes religious appearance over genuine compassion and filial duty.
Think of it this way:
Imagine someone saying, "I can't help my parents pay their bills because I've promised that money to a charity." On the surface, that might sound noble. But if the promise to the charity is used as a reason to neglect one's parents, then something is wrong. In Jesus's view, fulfilling the clear obligation to care for family is a higher priority than making a symbolic or hypothetical offering to God. He is emphasizing the importance of true piety, which involves both religious devotion and fulfilling one's responsibilities to others, especially family.
This verse, Mark 7:11, is part of Jesus's criticism of the Pharisees and scribes for prioritizing their own traditions over God's commandments. It illustrates a specific example of how they were undermining the commandment to honor one's parents. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother…'": Jesus is pointing out a practice they were advocating or allowing.
"…'Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;…'": This is the core of the issue.
"Corban": This is an Aramaic word meaning "a gift dedicated to God" or "a sacred offering."
"Whatever profit you might have received from me": This refers to any financial support, assistance, or benefit that the son might have provided to his parents.
The man is declaring that whatever support he could have given to his parents is now designated as "Corban" – a gift to God.
Implication: By declaring his resources as "Corban," the man was essentially claiming that those resources were now set aside for God and could no longer be used to support his parents. This effectively relieved him of the responsibility of caring for them.
In Essence:
The verse describes a loophole the religious leaders were exploiting. They allowed people to evade their responsibility to care for their aging parents by declaring their resources as "Corban" – dedicated to God. This declaration, in their interpretation, superseded the biblical commandment to honor one's father and mother.
Jesus's Point:
Jesus is condemning this practice because it puts a man-made tradition (declaring something "Corban") above a clear commandment of God (honoring parents). He argues that their tradition effectively nullifies God's law and prioritizes religious appearance over genuine compassion and filial duty.
Think of it this way:
Imagine someone saying, "I can't help my parents pay their bills because I've promised that money to a charity." On the surface, that might sound noble. But if the promise to the charity is used as a reason to neglect one's parents, then something is wrong. In Jesus's view, fulfilling the clear obligation to care for family is a higher priority than making a symbolic or hypothetical offering to God. He is emphasizing the importance of true piety, which involves both religious devotion and fulfilling one's responsibilities to others, especially family.
