Mark 7:9 (WEB)
He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Mark 7:9–13 (KJV)
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 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. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Key words
- Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σουtima ton patera sou kai tēn mētera sou · Greek
- 'Honour thy father and thy mother' — the commandment Jesus enforces.
- θανάτῳ τελευτάτωthanatō teleutatō · Greek
- 'let him die the death' (v. 10) — Jesus cites the death penalty for those who fail their parents.
- κορβᾶνkorban · Greek
- 'Corban,' a gift — the device by which a son withheld support from his parents, which Jesus condemns.
Why it matters
Jesus condemns those who use a vow to avoid supporting their parents, and cites the Law's death penalty for dishonouring them. Pitre uses this to give the cross scene its full force (p 109): in Jesus' own words, neglecting one's aging parents was a capital offence. Had Mary other sons, entrusting her to a disciple would have been unthinkable; Jesus gives her to John because he is her only son.