Mark 7:11
“But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God”;’”
What does Mark 7:11 mean?
Jesus is describing a loophole that religious leaders of his time had created, one that let people avoid caring for their aging parents while still appearing pious. If someone declared their money or resources "Corban" (a gift devoted to God), they could claim it was untouchable and therefore unavailable to help mom or dad, even though the money stayed in their own pocket. It was a way to sound spiritual while being conveniently stingy. Jesus is pointing out how people can twist religious rules to escape the harder, messier work of actual love and responsibility. The underlying tension is ancient: the tension between ritual observance and genuine care for those closest to us. If your faith doesn't make you kinder to your own parents, something has gone very wrong.