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Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 160

2 Peter 1:9 "...And has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins."

Day 160 – Mark 7

“…And has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9

A GLIMPSE OF HOW THE SCRIPTURES WERE SET ASIDE

Jesus knew only too well just how the scribes and Pharisees manipulated the Scriptures and set aside its authority, in favour of their tradition.

“But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother,
‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban-
(that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything
for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no
effect through your tradition which you have handed down.
And many such things you do.'”
MARK 7:11-13

1. An assumption that there are family problems

a) A good and loving son would fulfill his filial duties.
b) However a bad and wicked son would try and get away with his misdeed of not providing for his aged parents.

2. The concept of Corban

a) It is in itself a good and noble concept.
b) In essence it teaches a person to honour God by dedicating things for holy service.

3. A twisted application of the Corban Concept

Imagine the following situation- The successful son now owns a second house. His parents are aged and in need of support from his son. However, this son somehow does not wish to do anything much for his parents. According to the Decalogue, he must honour his parents and provide for them, regardless of how he felt about them.

a) Enter the twisted Corban concept
The shrewd and wicked son goes to the scribes and he says that he wishes to make a special gift of his second house to God. The house is now Corban.
b) The parents cannot appeal against that which is Corban
The aged parents are caught. They cannot appeal against that which their son has dedicated to the Lord!

4. A sound rebuke of the twisted Corban concept

The scribes and Pharisees had, in passing down this tradition, and upholding it, had in fact set aside God’s commandment. The laws of God were never meant to be manipulated in this fashion! (There were other aberrations perpetrated… Mark 7:13b)!