Word@Work 083 - Mark 7:9-13
Published: Fri, 03/14/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 7:9-13 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, 'Honour your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." (NIV)
Corban was a sort of religious tax-avoidance scheme. In those days, there was no pension or social security payment for the elderly, except for whatever their offspring could provide. Despite all the love and expensive care lavished by parents on their children, some grown up children did not want to repay the investment. By declaring all their assets to be 'Corban', they effectively put them into a 'trust' that their parents could not touch - by saying that the money was for God (although it was really for whatever purpose they wanted, declaring it to be 'holy' money).
Jesus saw right through this hypocrisy. He pointed out that 'honouring parents' is not just a verbal nicety, but a practical, physical and financial responsibility. To ignore this duty is to ignore God. By placing this tradition above God's Word, they showed how little they thought of God. Paradoxically, if the tradition was 'handed down', it may have been the way their parents treated their grandparents! Jesus continued his assault on their hypocrisy by exposing similar behaviour in other areas of life.
The ability of self-centred people to avoid their God-given responsibility is breathtaking. Care of dependent parents can be totally delegated to 'homes' with only the occasional visit. Money for mission, competes with money for me; while our homes get makeovers although the church is still shabby. "And you do many things like that", is a searching sideswipe at our ego-centric culture. How would we respond if Jesus were physically here?
Prayer: Dear Lord, it is so good that I can never pull the wool over Your eyes. You see it all! Please show me where I am in danger of becoming like these Pharisees - ignoring obvious responsibilities and making the reason sound spiritual, In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Corban was a sort of religious tax-avoidance scheme. In those days, there was no pension or social security payment for the elderly, except for whatever their offspring could provide. Despite all the love and expensive care lavished by parents on their children, some grown up children did not want to repay the investment. By declaring all their assets to be 'Corban', they effectively put them into a 'trust' that their parents could not touch - by saying that the money was for God (although it was really for whatever purpose they wanted, declaring it to be 'holy' money).
Jesus saw right through this hypocrisy. He pointed out that 'honouring parents' is not just a verbal nicety, but a practical, physical and financial responsibility. To ignore this duty is to ignore God. By placing this tradition above God's Word, they showed how little they thought of God. Paradoxically, if the tradition was 'handed down', it may have been the way their parents treated their grandparents! Jesus continued his assault on their hypocrisy by exposing similar behaviour in other areas of life.
The ability of self-centred people to avoid their God-given responsibility is breathtaking. Care of dependent parents can be totally delegated to 'homes' with only the occasional visit. Money for mission, competes with money for me; while our homes get makeovers although the church is still shabby. "And you do many things like that", is a searching sideswipe at our ego-centric culture. How would we respond if Jesus were physically here?
Prayer: Dear Lord, it is so good that I can never pull the wool over Your eyes. You see it all! Please show me where I am in danger of becoming like these Pharisees - ignoring obvious responsibilities and making the reason sound spiritual, In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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