Mark 7:11 and the Command to Honor Parents
Mark 7:11 and the Command to Honor Parents
Mark 7:11 states, "But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God)" [1]. This verse is part of a larger passage where Jesus critiques the Pharisees for their tradition of Corban, which allowed individuals to dedicate their resources to God, thereby avoiding their obligation to support their needy parents.
The command to "honor thy father and thy mother" is a fundamental principle in the biblical tradition, rooted in Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. This commandment is not only about showing respect but also about providing for parents in their need [2, 3]. The biblical understanding of "honor" encompasses both emotional reverence and practical support [4].
In Mark 7, Jesus contrasts the Pharisees' tradition with God's commandment. By declaring resources "Corban," individuals could sidestep their responsibility to care for their parents, effectively dishonoring them despite their professed devotion to God [3]. This practice is seen as a corruption of true piety, as it prioritizes ritual observance over familial obligations.
The early Church Fathers and Reformers interpreted this passage as emphasizing the importance of caring for one's parents. According to John Calvin, the commandment to honor parents includes providing for their support when necessary, as Jesus' commentary on the Pharisees' practice indicates [4, 6]. The Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge, also understands the fifth commandment as enjoining not just respect but also material support for parents [4].
The Jewish tradition, as seen in Ramban's commentary on Exodus 20:12, views the command to honor parents as a fundamental aspect of the relationship between humans and God, with the father being "akin to a creator" in relation to his offspring [5]. This understanding underscores the significance of familial relationships within the broader context of divine commandments.
The critique of the Corban practice in Mark 7:11 serves as a reminder of the importance of balancing religious devotion with familial responsibilities. It highlights the tension between tradition and the original intent of God's commandments, emphasizing the need to prioritize the latter.
The interpretation of Mark 7:11 has been consistent across various Christian traditions, emphasizing the importance of honoring parents through both reverence and practical care. This understanding is rooted in the biblical text and has been reinforced by commentators throughout history [2, 3, 4].
Sources
- Mark “Mark 7:11 (BSB) — But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 7:10: For Moses said,.... That is, God by Moses; for the following precept was spoken by God, and written by him on one of the tables of stone, and delivered into the hands of Moses, to be given to the children of Israel: honour thy father and thy mother, Exo 20:12, the sanction of which law is, and whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death, Exo 21:17. As the former of these commands is to be understood, not only of honouring parents in thought, word, and deed, but also of providing for them, when in want and distress, through poverty and old age; so the latte”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 7:11: 7:11-12 But you say: The contrast with God’s law is emphatic—their tradition repudiated God’s command for people to honor their parents by providing for their needs. • ‘For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you’: The tradition said that people could sidestep their obligation to support their parents by dedicating some of their resources to God, thus disregarding and dishonoring their needy parents.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: Matt. xv. 4 .) It may be remarked here, in passing, that our Lord’s comment on this commandment given in Matthew xv. 4-6 , shows that the honouring of their parents required of children, does not mean simply the cherishing right feelings towards them, but as well the ministering to their support when necessary. Christ said to the Pharisees, “God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother; . . . . but ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift (consecrated to God), by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 20:12: HONOR THY FATHER. Having finished all that we are obligated towards the Creator Himself and His glory, He turns now to command us about those matters which concern created beings. He begins with the father, for in relation to his offspring, he is akin to a creator, being partner with Him in the forming of the child. 471 Kiddushin 30 b: “There are three partners in man: the Holy One, blessed be He, his father and his mother.” G-d is our first Father, and he who begets it [i.e., the child] is our last male parent. This is why He said in the Book of Deuterono”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 44: insult and contempt. The second he enforces, when he denounces the punishment of death on disobedient and rebellious children. To the third belongs our Saviour’s declaration, that God requires us to do good to our parents ( Mt. 15 ). And whenever Paul mentions this commandment, he interprets it as enjoining obedience. 213 213 Exod. 21:17 ; Lev. 20:9 ; Prov. 20:20 ; Deut. 21:18 ; Mt. 25:4 ; Eph. 6:1 ; Colloss. 3:20. 37. A promise is added by way of recommendation, the better to remind us how pleasing to God is the submission which i”