Mark 7:11-13 English Standard Version

11 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)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

In these passages is a specific issue. It is centered around a false interpretation of God’s word in which those doing the teaching might obtain something which should have gone towards honoring God’s word.

This section ends with an accusation that many other things are done in the same way without giving any specifics. Those things are left as an open accusation. Without some specific detail how do we know what is being done that is wrong?

This is a perfect example of the Word of God avoiding specifics in order that each person can examine their own motivations in what they do and believe. We can find a hint of where Jesus was going in these verses by the passages that followed.

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

“Here me, all of you!”

There is no exclusion here when He declares “all”, meaning everyone who reads His Word.

Now comes the narrow path to understanding.

17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.

Rather than theorizing, a disciple will turn to Jesus for answers.

Then Jesus revealed the heart of the matter at hand.

19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”