What is the meaning of Mark 7:10? Honor your father and your mother “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’” (Mark 7:10a) • Jesus lifts the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) to remind His listeners that God has always required children to value their parents’ God-given role. • In the immediate context (Mark 7:1-13), the Pharisees had developed the “Corban” tradition—declaring money dedicated to God and therefore unavailable to help aging parents. By quoting Moses, Jesus exposes how their man-made rule sidestepped a clear command. • Honoring includes: – Respectful speech and attitude (Proverbs 30:17) – Obedient actions while growing up (Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20) – Material and emotional support when parents grow older (1 Timothy 5:4, 8). • The promise “that your days may be long” (Exodus 20:12) underscores God’s intent that family order blesses both individuals and society. Breaking this order invites disorder and loss. Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death “…and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’” (Mark 7:10b) • Moses’ civil penalty in Israel (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9) reveals how seriously God views contempt for parental authority. While the church today is not a theocratic nation administering capital punishment, the moral weight remains. • “Curses” does more than swear; it denotes a settled attitude of rebellion, a public shaming of parents (Deuteronomy 27:16; Proverbs 20:20). • By pairing this penalty with the call to honor, Jesus shows that God’s Word leaves no neutral ground: we either esteem or despise. Traditions that excuse neglect effectively place us in the latter category. • The severity of the law also magnifies the grace of the gospel. Christ bore the curse for every sin, including dishonor (Galatians 3:13), yet His grace never licenses continued disrespect (Romans 6:1-2). summary Jesus cites two Mosaic commands to unmask a religious loophole that invalidated parental care. God’s timeless expectation is clear: esteem, obey, and provide for parents. Any tradition—cultural, religious, or personal—that undercuts that duty stands condemned by Scripture itself. Genuine obedience prioritizes God’s Word over human rules and expresses love for parents in practical, sacrificial ways. |
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