Mark 7

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

What does Mark 7:11 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:11 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, where Jesus is addressing the practices of the religious leaders of his time.

The verse specifically speaks about a tradition known as 'Corban,' which means a gift dedicated to God.

In the broader context of Mark 7:9-13, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and legal experts for allowing traditions such as Corban to override the more important moral obligation of honoring one's parents.

He points out that by declaring something as Corban, a person could withhold support from their parents, saying that what they might have received from their children has already been pledged as a gift to God.

Thus, they are evading their responsibility under the guise of religiosity.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Jewish society was highly governed by a detailed religious legal system that included the law of Moses (Torah) as well as subsequent oral traditions and regulations interpreted by the religious leaders. 'Corban' was one such tradition.

It involved dedicating money or property to the Temple, making it unavailable for any other use, even for supporting one's own parents.

This tradition, while seemingly pious, could be exploited to neglect familial responsibilities, which is what Jesus condemns.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates the principle that God prioritizes the heart's motives over ritualistic observance. Different theologies emphasize this point in varying ways:

Evangelical Theology: Emphasizes that religious practices should not overrule moral obligations, such as caring for one's family.
Catholic Theology: Sees in this a reminder that the external practices of faith should lead to and be in harmony with inner transformation and love.
Liberal Theology: May interpret Jesus' critique as a call to question and reform religious institutions and practices that are unjust or abusive.
Jewish Theology: At the time, might view Jesus’ teaching as a challenge to rabbinic authority and tradition since he appears to prioritize the spirit of the law over the letter of the law.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 7:11 challenges believers to evaluate their own religious practices and motives.

It asks whether their actions truly reflect God's love and teachings or whether they are merely adhering to the letter of religious law without embodying its spirit.

It encourages the prioritization of family, generosity, and genuine care over merely performing religious duties or using them as an excuse to avoid moral responsibilities.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:12: "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
Matthew 15:4-6: Jesus discusses a similar issue with the tradition of Corban.
1 Timothy 5:8: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

Language Study

The key term in this verse is "Corban" (Greek: κορβᾶν or korban), which is actually a transliterated Hebrew word (קרבן) meaning "that which is brought near" or "offering." It refers to anything dedicated to God, which in turn becomes sacred and cannot be used for ordinary purposes.

The phrase also uses the Greek "εἰς ὄφελος," translated as "by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me," pointing to a benefit or profit denied to the parents.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other cultures and religions, similar tensions exist between religious duties and familial responsibilities.

For example, in Hindu culture, the concept of 'dharma' can refer to both religious duty and social/familial obligations.

The right balance must be sought to ensure neither is neglected.

In Buddhism, while there is an emphasis on detachment, caring for one’s parents is also considered a virtuous deed.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not directly intersect with any specific scientific understanding.

However, the principle of caring for one's parents has implications for psychological well-being and social stability, which are areas of interest in social science disciplines like psychology and sociology.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 7:11 largely focus on Jesus' critique of the misuse of religious traditions:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes that the practice of declaring something Corban, while intended to honor God, ends up violating the fifth commandment, honoring one's parents.

He also points out the broader principle of ensuring that human traditions do not contravene God's commands.

The Expositor's Greek Testament discusses the legal and ethical considerations of Jesus' criticism and the implications it has for understanding religious duty as not being in competition with ethical obligations.
The Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the heart of the matter: that external rites should not override the essential moral and ethical duties inherent in God's law, and that Jesus' teaching sought to purify the understanding and practice of God's commandments.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 7:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?