Anchor My Faith

The Sin of “Corban”

Scripture: Mark 7:10-13

Jesus continues his statement to the Pharisees and scribes and says: ^{Mk 7:10} “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ ¹¹ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— ¹² then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, ¹³ thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

The fifth commandment is: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 ESV) or “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 21:17 ESV). No one questioned the importance of this law and disregarding it was punishable with death, as we read in Exodus 21:17 (ESV): “Whoever curses his father, or his mother shall be put to death.”

As father and mother age there would be a growing need for both to be cared for, both personally and financially. To meet those needs is part of honoring them, but as the younger population became more self-centered, a tradition was established that allowed funds that would be used in the care of parents to be declared Corban or legally dedicated to God as a future offering. These funds were in the form of a grain offering (Leviticus 2:1) or an offering of livestock (Leviticus 1:2). By making this dedication to God, tradition freed one from responsibility under the law to provide for parents. These funds could be given to the temple, if so desired.

Declaring these funds Corban made them unavailable to provide the needed care for parents. Since these funds did not have to be given to the temple, it became a dishonest way of keeping these funds for one’s personal use. As a result, such human traditions allowed room for the depravity of the human heart to oppose the Law of Moses, a law designed to protect the weak and helpless, in this case, parents in their feeble old age.

Jesus made it clear that in so doing, they were making void the word of God as they intentionally developed ways to avoid obeying those parts of the law they didn’t like. This example of Corban is just one of many things they did in disregarding and rejecting aspects of the Mosaic law.

Having condemned them for developing human traditions to shield them from the requirements of the law, Jesus next speaks about the heart that would do such things. We will look at what he said in the next lesson.

Conclusion

Corban was an example of how Jewish tradition was making void the word of God, thus removing responsibility to obey it. What traditions have we established that makes void parts of the word of God to us? Do you read and study only the parts of the Bible that are comfortable to you, ignoring the rest? Might our tradition be itching ears and intentional ignorance?