Corban

"Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban (that is, given to God)," Mark 7:11.

Corban. What's with that? Well, in the day it meant a big contribution of money (or other valuables) to God. It's like you made a promise to make a big donation to God's religion. But that promise empties out your reserves to help parents who've outlived their own savings. What do you do? Fulfill the promise to God or help out the old folks? Jesus uses this moment to answer the question posed to him about hand washing. (Hand washing?!) He focuses the distinction between doing what poses as religion and actual religion. The posers said you had to do what the elders said: Keep promises to God. Jesus said you had to do what God actually said: Honor father and mother. Want your religion real? Do what God said. Anything else is wasted posing. That's what Jesus said. His unseen sky kingdom deals with reality.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, we share in each other's burdens and so realize the law of Christ. And, together, we give thanks that he did not consider his life Corban but became real to us.