Traditions of fathers Mk 7,1-13

The Pharisees added various explanations to these regulations. The Pharisees added different answers to these regulations until it all became formalism and led to hypocrisy in the Pharisees’ faith. We know that the Lord Jesus came into conflict with the law teachers concerning fasting and the keeping of the Sabbath, the day of rest.

It is a fundamental question whether it is permissible to nullify God’s commandment to preserve tradition in the Gospel. Jesus is clear that God’s commandments must not be broken. Practice must give way. We see this when he stands up for his disciples, who did not maintain ceremonial purity and did not keep the tradition of their ancestors, which said that they must wash before they ate. Jesus reveals to them a solemn fact. The Pharisees were very particular about outward observance, but they could justify themselves inwardly. He told them: “You know how to abolish the commandments of God to keep your customs.” (Mk 7:9). And immediately, he also gives them the proof. Moses said: “Honor thy father and thy mother” and, “He that curses father or mother shall surely be put to death.” (Mk 7:10). But you say, “When a man says to his father or mother, ‘Korban,’ which means that all I have to help you with is a sacrifice,” you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or mother. And you are nullifying the Word of God because of the customs you are passing on. And many other similar things you do” (Mk 7:11-13).

For the Jews at the time of Christ had a custom, or tradition, of giving to God by vow what they were to provide for the support of their parents. In this way, the son could free himself from the obligation to rear his parents and withhold all their material support. The burden of such a vow was considered more potent than the natural duty to care for and provide for parents. The action of the scribes was often a mockery of all justice. Mark had to describe these Jewish matters to us to understand the rightness of the Lord Jesus’ actions. For we also know from the Gospel these words of the Lord Jesus, “Think not that I am come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” (Mt 5:17). We see that the Lord Jesus sets the record straight when He says that tradition, which men have invented, must give way before the commandments of God.

Sadly, even in our day, some would like the Ten Commandments of God to be non-existent, or at least to be publicly proclaimed as ineffective and meaningless. They demand this because they do not keep the Ten Commandments, they circumvent them, and therefore their conscience speaks to them. But then some come to Holy Communion, but their heart is far from what they are doing. But the Ten Commandments have a certain solemnity and importance even today, as they had in the days of Moses.

Even in our times, the world needs to return to its fulfillment. Even as Jesus himself brought it to completion when he declared, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. That you also love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn 13:34). Even the Gospel can be misunderstood, and we see only commands and prohibitions in it. Therefore, we must not think that we are good Christians when we outwardly fulfill what the Ten Commandments and Christian morality command us. However, all this is not enough to be saved, but we must, first of all, live our faith inwardly and outwardly.

We must not speak of taste or a bad taste in keeping the commandments. We must keep the command even when it is the least attractive.