Mar 7:8-12 | RWP | e4.org | Ye leave the commandment of God ( αφεντες την εντολην του θεου ). Note the sharp contrast between the command of God and the traditions of men. Jesus here drives a keen wedge into the Pharisaic contention. They had covered up the Word of God with their oral teaching. Jesus here shows that they care more for the oral teaching of the scribes and elders than for the written law of God. The Talmud gives abundant and specific confirmation of the truthfulness of this indictment.

‏ Mark 7:8-12

Ye leave the commandment of God ( αφεντες την εντολην του θεου ). Note the sharp contrast between the command of God and the traditions of men. Jesus here drives a keen wedge into the Pharisaic contention. They had covered up the Word of God with their oral teaching. Jesus here shows that they care more for the oral teaching of the scribes and elders than for the written law of God. The Talmud gives abundant and specific confirmation of the truthfulness of this indictment.

Full well do ye reject the commandment of God that ye may keep your traditions ( καλως αθετειτε την εντολην του θεου ινα την παραδοσιν υμων τηρησητε ). One can almost see the scribes withering under this terrible arraignment. It was biting sarcasm that cut to the bone. The evident irony should prevent literal interpretation as commendation of the Pharisaic pervasion of God's word. See my The Pharisees and Jesus for illustrations of the way that they placed this oral tradition above the written law. See on Mt 15:7.

Corban ( κορβαν ο εστιν δωρον ). See on Mt 15:5. Mark preserves the Hebrew word for a gift or offering to God (Ex 21:17; Le 20:9), indeclinable here, meaning

gift ( δωρον ), but declinable κορβανας in Mt 27:6, meaning sacred treasury. The rabbis ( but ye say, υμεις δε λεγετε ) actually allowed the mere saying of this word by an unfaithful son to prevent the use of needed money for the support of father or mother. It was a home thrust to these pettifogging sticklers for ceremonial punctilios. They not only justified such a son's trickery, but held that he was prohibited from using it for father or mother, but he might use it for himself.