New Testament Christians in Cork

Expressions of Sanctimonious Piety and Hypocritical Faith (Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:1-13)

“Corban” is not a word you hear often, if at all. It’s a Hebrew word from the Old Testament that means “offering” or “gift” and has to do with things that were offered in sacrifice to God.

By the time Jesus came to talk about the principle of Corban in Palestine in the first century(Matthew 15:1-11; Mark 7:1-13) the word had come to be used not so much of the thing offered (the animal, or other sacrifice). Rather, things were more complicated than a simple offering dedicated to God. Corban came to represent the promise of the notional value of the sacrifice that would be forfeited in the event of the sacrifice being made. Complicated.

It was a case of, “If I were to sacrifice this lamb to God, theoretically it would cost me €XX. So, that money can theoretically be dedicated to God, even if I never offer its value in reality. But because I have dedicated it to God, it is no longer available for any other use, including supporting my own parents financially.”

Of course the property remained at the disposal of the person who made such a vow and deprived the parents of any benefit.

Why did Jesus call them hypocrites?

Firstly, because such a person was not honouring his parents, but violating the command of God (Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 5:16). This was an age when pensions, social welfare payments and bank savings were unheard of, and when older parents had to rely upon their grown children for daily provisions. In such circumstances, “If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God)” (Mark 7:11) he was condemning those parents to hardship and hunger, and was certainly not honouring them as God commanded.

Secondly, the statement of the son to his parents might have been made in anger or irritation. And because this man had promised it to God, using the word Corban, he was now under an oath that must be kept. But perhaps later on he realised how foolish such an oath was and how foolish it had been to speak harshly to his parents (Mark 7:10) and he had a change of heart. But because it was an oath promised to God, some of these contemporaries of Jesus were saying that this man must keep his oath, even though it was a foolish oath made in a moment of passion, and even though the Jewish Law allowed for a person to correct such a foolish vow (Numbers 15:28). For some it would not look right to go back on your word, regardless of the circumstances.

Perhaps Jesus sees their hypocrisy in their approach to, and respect for God and His word. For them it was all about externals, regardless of motivation or intent. Their religion was motivated by what other people might think. If they could be seen to be putting God first, surely people would think better of them.

For Jesus it is simple. God comes first, on Monday afternoons and on Sunday mornings. God comes first when I am alone and when I am with others, in public and in private. Always. Anything else is playing at religion.