“You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
Mark 7:8
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were scrupulous about ceremonial washing (7:3-4). They felt that these rituals would preserve purity before God. But Jesus says, “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men” (7:8).
He gives an example: “Moses said, ‘Honour your father and your mother’… But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)—then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother” (7:10-12).
The Pharisees had a program in which you could declare possessions “Corban,” or restricted. It was a way of tying up money, so that it was not available for other use. You could honestly say to a person in need, “I’d love to help, but I don’t have any resources available.”
Jesus described a man who declared his property Corban, so that he could no longer help his parents. Perhaps he had fallen out with them. But one day, he had a change of heart and he decided that he wanted to help them. So, he went to the Pharisees to find out how to release the money, but they would not let him. Once you declared an asset Corban, it could not be changed.
The biggest stewardship decisions are not the decisions about how much you will give. They are about how much you will tie up so that it cannot be given.
How much should you tie up in your house? How much should you tie up in your retirement? How much should you tie up in travel, sports, hobbies, and pleasure?
