Mark 7:9-13 - Making Void the Word of God

Mark 7:9-13
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Message: Making Void the Word of God

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - At the beginning of Chapter 7, Mark pauses a moment in his gospel to bring attention to the Pharisees and their attack on Jesus for doing things that are contrary to the laws and traditions they have followed. Jesus permits his disciples to eat without clean hands. Here, Jesus is speaking of the importance of a heart change. I don't think he is diminishing the importance of keeping oneself clean, but he is emphasizing that we all need to make sure that we don't get caught up in rules and outward appearances and forget the real issue: the motive of one's own heart.

As he speaks to the Pharisees, trying to get them to think about the heart, He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition." Ouch. That hurts. But, this is the crux of what Jesus is communicating. The problem with these religious people is not just that they kept certain traditions, but they elevated them above the commandment of God. The commandment of God became almost secondary.

The rabbinic traditions are many, but they are not wild notions but rather further clarifications to situations that are not clearly expressed in the Bible, thus it is an attempt by man to further apply truth to all situations. I call this abiding by the oral law which is something very common in many religious groups. Purgatory is one of those oral laws, as well as exalting certain leaders of a faith as saints. These are ideas not mentioned in scripture and yet they are exalted to a level equal of scripture.

Here is an interesting example, taken from the pages of TableTalk on May 17, 2016:

Judaism’s system of kosher laws is a classic example. (Modern Judaism is based more on the traditions of the rabbis than on the Old Testament.) Exodus 23:19; 34:26; and Deuteronomy 14:21 all say, “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” Over time, the kosher law that milk and meat products should not be eaten together developed out of a desire to keep the commandments of these passages. After all, if one never puts meat and milk together, one will certainly never boil a young animal in its mother’s milk, even accidentally.

What the Jews did and just the Jews but many religions is develop a code of conduct based upon the law, providing more detailed requirements for keeping that law. There is a commandment in scripture that says, "Do not be unequally yoked." What I see from that is parents then defining that their children can never be around non-Christians as they are growing up. Or even the command to "train up a child in the way he should go" means that children need to be educated only in the home and not by the public school systems.

Now, the idea to only have your children date Christians or only be around those that are the opposite sex is not a problem in itself and yet we are also commanded to go into the world and preach the gospel, which means being around non-Christians is necessary. Thus, if one command leads to breaking another command, then there is a problem. 

And so, what Jesus does is more clearly offer an example of that which he is speaking, namely, the exalting of tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

The Corban rule was a practice of deferred giving. One could often simply say the word Corban and it inferred that something had been pledged to the temple or church. It allowed individuals to deed property or other gifts, then after they die, they become the property of the church. This is not a bad thing and speaks to the idea that when we die, we should be transferring our possessions to be used by the next generation. But the concern that Jesus brings up is that some people were neglecting their responsibilities to elders, their own father or mother. It was commonly understood that just as parents take care of their children, children take care of their parents later in life. Perhaps these parents had a monetary need or a need of property, but rather than caring for the parents and providing them what they need, they believe that since they have previously identified a material possession as Corban then it was obligated already. It was holding on to one law at the expense of another obligation.

I think church people have a tendency to do this, perhaps in more simplistic ways, feeling like they must hold to one obligation, like attending church, when maybe there is a person in need that they could minister to, but they don't, because they feel they must get to church. And do we also hold onto our possessions, for a rainy day, saving riches that we have purchased and set aside, rather than helping someone out now that needs it. We get obsessed with our personal retirements and protecting ourselves in the future when there are people with real needs that we could help now. Thus, we elevate our own personal needs or personal obligations over real needs the Spirit could be drawing us towards. 

Summary - Jesus is confronting the Pharisees. While they are concerned Jesus is neglecting their traditions, Jesus is concerned with their heart and why they are doing what they are doing. Is it really motivated toward God and the things of faith or do we get sidetracked on doing things for God that we neglect the people God has placed in our lives? Do we get obsessed with ensuring that are right with God that we then neglect people?

Promise: We too can be obsessed with good but optional things (like giving extra gifts to the temple) in a a way makes us break God's law, shifting our priorities from only to God to remembering its about God and the people he has placed in our lives.

Prayer: O Lord, my Lord, my King, the Only One. I do want to honor You. Help me to not sacrifice people that you have placed in my life because I somehow think that it is more important to worship You because I am concerned that if I don't then you will reject me. I need to listen to Your Spirit in my life at all times, being sensitive to areas that you have called me, being sensitive to the people that you have placed in my life. Help me Lord. I need your help and strength and leading.