This word is found only one time in the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) and that is in Mark 7:11. However, it is found more than 80 times in the Old Testament because this word is of Hebrew origin, as is well documented in Christian commentaries. I find it quite interesting that this word is used here considering that all of the New Testament was suppose to have been written in Greek. Really? Well I'm not very smart, but I do know enough to know that this word wouldn't be here if indeed Mark was written in Greek. This word was left untranslated from either an Aramaic or Hebrew manuscript. There are many, many occurrences of this in the gospels. There is plenty of proof for the ardent Bible scholar to prove that “all” of the New Testament was not originally written in Greek. However, this subject is not the intent of this lesson.
The word qorban or korban/corban means “something brought near the altar, a sacrificial present”. In Strong's Commentary it is number H7133. It refers to all of the offerings required to be brought before the altar of Yahweh.
To understand what Yeshua was saying in Mark 7:11 we will need to add a few more scriptures to get the whole picture.
Mark 7:9-13, “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 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." And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
It is a well known fact that one of the 10 Commandments is to honor your father and mother. As a child, living in the home of the parents, a child is commanded to obey and honor them. As an adult, this commandment still stands in that an adult is still to honor and care for the parents. In fact, to break this commandment brought death.
This verse tells us that during the time of Yeshua a “tradition” of the day had corrupted the commandment so that adult children could get around taking care of their parents. What would happen was that the person would say that they had set aside money to be given to the temple in Jerusalem, instead of using that money as would be needed to care for their parents. In other words, the tradition was that if you set that money aside and instead gave it to the temple offering, then it would free the person from the obligation of giving or using the money for the purposes of caring for parents.
What we find here is that “tradition” had replaced the “doctrine” of Yahweh, making the commandment of “honor thy father and thy mother” annuled in that situation.
Yeshua stands by the commandment of His Father. He rejects the tradition of man. There is no way to get around any of Yahweh's commandments! They stand the test of time and will last forever. He does not change His mind.
Man does not have the authority to change ANY of Yahweh's commandments! Not under any circumstances.
We should be careful how we listen to the traditions of our churches and denominations. Do they line up with the Word of God? If not, then they are to be rejected.
Yeshua's biggest grief was the teachings of the leaders where they imposed their traditions on the people. This was the yoke that was too heavy for them to bear. Matthew 23:1-4, 13-15.
In Deuteronomy 4:2 we are instructed that no one is to add to or take away from Yahweh's Holy Word.
Amazingly, the Catholic Church claims that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ. This means that he is the replacement of Christ. He has the power to forgive sins and so does a priest when a parishioner goes to him to ask forgiveness for sin. The Pope also claims to have the power to change the Word of God.
Now, before we so called Protestants start pointing fingers, we have done the same thing. We have put heavy burdens upon people that are not required in the Word of God.
The Jews have, Christianity has! So, stop pointing fingers and take responsibility for yourself.
Would anyone like to discuss “legalism”? This is “legalism”. Obeying the “heavy yoke” of man's commandments, but Yeshua said that His “yoke” was not heavy. What was His yoke? His Fathers' true commandments, statutes and judgments!
The Commandments of YHWH stand! Don't try to figure out a way to get around them. When He said, “honor your father and your mother” He meant it, and He meant all the rest of His Words. NO tradition of man can change that!
Shalom!
