Mark 7:12

KJV

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} ye suffer {G863} him {G846} no more {G3765} to do {G4160} ought {G3762} for his {G846} father {G3962} or {G2228} his {G846} mother {G3384};

Complete Jewish Bible

then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.

Berean Standard Bible

he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother.

American Standard Version

ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 7:12 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes, exposing the profound hypocrisy of their religious traditions. In this verse, Jesus specifically condemns their perversion of the "Corban" vow, which allowed individuals to declare their possessions dedicated to God, thereby conveniently absolving themselves of the divine command to honor and financially support their aging parents. This practice, sanctioned by the religious elite, effectively nullified God's clear law in favor of a man-made loophole, revealing a heart that prioritized outward piety and personal convenience over genuine obedience and filial duty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 7:12 is situated within a broader discourse (Mark 7:1-23) where Jesus directly challenges the religious leaders' rigid adherence to human traditions over God's commandments. The passage begins with the Pharisees questioning Jesus' disciples for not observing the traditional ceremonial washing of hands before eating. Jesus responds by accusing them of hypocrisy, quoting Isaiah 29:13: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." He then offers the "Corban" example as a concrete illustration of how they "set aside the commandment of God to hold to the tradition of men" ([Mark 7:8](/mark/7-8 "Mark 7:8 - Setting aside God's Commandment")). This specific verse, [Mark 7:12](/mark/7-12 "Mark 7:12 - The Corban Perversion"), serves as the damning conclusion to Jesus' indictment of their practice regarding parental care, directly following the explanation of the Corban vow in [Mark 7:11](/mark/7-11 "Mark 7:11 - Explanation of Corban"). The entire pericope culminates in Jesus' teaching to the crowd about true defilement originating from within the heart, not from external rituals ([Mark 7:14-23](/mark/7-14-23 "Mark 7:14-23 - What Defiles a Person")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of "Corban" (κορβᾶν, *korban*), a Hebrew term meaning "a gift" or "an offering" dedicated to God, was originally a legitimate and pious act of devotion. Individuals could vow to dedicate property or resources to the Temple, making them sacred and unusable for personal gain. However, by Jesus' time, the Pharisees had developed a legalistic interpretation that allowed individuals to declare their assets "Corban" in a way that prevented them from being used to support their needy parents, even while the individual retained practical control over the assets. This created a loophole to circumvent the clear biblical command to honor one's father and mother, found explicitly in the [Fifth Commandment](/exodus/20-12 "Exodus 20:12 - The Fifth Commandment") of the Decalogue and reiterated in [Deuteronomy 5:16](/deuteronomy/5-16 "Deuteronomy 5:16 - Honoring Parents"). In ancient Jewish society, the care of elderly parents was a fundamental familial and moral obligation, a cornerstone of societal order and religious duty. The Pharisees' tradition, therefore, not only violated a divine command but also undermined a crucial social responsibility.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel of Mark and broader biblical theology. It highlights the stark **contrast between true and false piety**, demonstrating that outward religious performance or adherence to human traditions is meaningless, and even condemned, when it contradicts the spirit and letter of God's law, particularly concerning love and justice. The passage underscores the **supremacy of God's Word** over human traditions; Jesus unequivocally asserts that divine commandments, such as the mandate to honor parents, take absolute precedence over any man-made rule or custom, especially when those traditions nullify or undermine God's clear instruction, as seen in [Matthew 15:3-6](/matthew/15-3-6 "Matthew 15:3-6 - Jesus Condemns Pharisaic Traditions"). Furthermore, the passage reinforces the enduring biblical principle of **filial duty and practical love**. Jesus emphasizes that genuine righteousness includes tangible care for one's family, especially parents in their old age, as a vital expression of faith and obedience, a principle echoed in [1 Timothy 5:8](/1_timothy/5-8 "1 Timothy 5:8 - Providing for One's Own").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **suffer (Greek, _aphíēmi'_):** (G863) This word means "to send forth," but in this context, it carries the sense of "to permit," "to allow," or "to let go." Jesus uses it to highlight the active role of the religious leaders in *allowing* and *sanctioning* the neglect of parental duty. They were not merely passive observers but were complicit in enabling people to shirk their responsibilities.
* **no more (Greek, _oukéti'_):** (G3765) This adverb signifies "not yet," or "no longer." Its inclusion here emphasizes the complete cessation or prevention of the duty. Once a vow of "Corban" was made, the person was *no longer* permitted, by the Pharisees' tradition, to provide for their parents, even if they wished to. This highlights the absolute nature of the tradition's nullifying effect on the divine command.
* **ought (Greek, _oudeís'_):** (G3762) Derived from "not even one," this word means "none," "nobody," or "nothing." In the phrase "to do ought," it implies "to do nothing at all." Coupled with *oukéti* ("no more"), it underscores the total and deliberate neglect of parental support that the Corban tradition facilitated, leaving parents without any assistance from their children.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And ye suffer him no more":** This clause directly implicates the Pharisees and scribes ("ye") in the perversion of the law. By their authoritative interpretation and enforcement of the Corban tradition, they actively "suffer" (permit, allow, or even encourage) individuals to cease their obligation. The phrase "no more" indicates that the tradition effectively put an end to the possibility of filial support, making it forbidden or impossible according to their rules.
* **"to do ought":** This phrase, using the word "ought" (meaning "nothing" or "not anything"), specifies the complete lack of action or provision. The Corban vow meant that the child was prevented from doing *anything* to help their parents, even if the parents were in dire need. This highlights the severe practical consequences of the tradition.
* **"for his father or his mother;":** This final clause identifies the specific victims of this perversion: the parents. It underscores the direct violation of the Fifth Commandment, which mandates honor and care for both father and mother. The tradition directly undermined the foundational family unit and the divine expectation of intergenerational care.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 7:12, as part of Jesus' broader critique, masterfully employs several literary devices. **Irony** is paramount, as the very religious leaders who claim to uphold God's law are shown to be the ones actively subverting it through their man-made traditions. They appear pious by dedicating gifts to God, yet their actions lead to the neglect of a fundamental divine command, creating a stark contrast between outward appearance and inward reality. The phrase "no more to do ought" also functions as a form of **hyperbole** or **absolute language**, emphasizing the complete and utter cessation of filial duty permitted by the Corban vow, highlighting the extreme nature of the tradition's impact. Furthermore, the entire passage, including this verse, relies on **juxtaposition**, placing the clear, simple command of God directly against the complex, self-serving traditions of men, thereby exposing the latter as a distortion of true righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 7:12 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of true worship and obedience. It reveals that genuine piety is not found in rigid adherence to external rituals or humanly devised traditions, especially when these traditions nullify the spirit and letter of God's moral law. Jesus exposes a legalistic system that prioritized outward appearance and self-serving interpretations over the divine commands of love, justice, and compassion. The passage underscores the principle that God desires mercy and practical love more than sacrifice, and that true devotion is demonstrated by a heart that seeks to obey His Word in all aspects of life, particularly in fulfilling one's responsibilities to family and community. It challenges believers to constantly examine their motives and ensure that their religious practices do not become an excuse to neglect fundamental ethical and relational duties.

* [Exodus 20:12](/exodus/20-12 "Exodus 20:12 - The Fifth Commandment")
* [Matthew 15:3-6](/matthew/15-3-6 "Matthew 15:3-6 - Jesus' Parallel Condemnation of Corban")
* [1 Timothy 5:8](/1_timothy/5-8 "1 Timothy 5:8 - Providing for One's Own Household")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 7:12 stands as a timeless warning against the dangers of religious hypocrisy and the subtle ways in which human traditions can undermine divine truth. It compels us to critically examine our own lives and the practices we uphold, both individually and corporately within the church. Are there "traditions" or unexamined assumptions we cling to that, perhaps unintentionally, cause us to neglect clear biblical commands concerning love, justice, or care for others? This verse challenges us to prioritize the spirit of God's law – which is love – over mere external conformity. It reminds us that our faith is not truly lived out in grand gestures alone, but in the faithful execution of our daily duties, especially to those God has placed in our immediate care, such as aging parents or vulnerable family members. True devotion is demonstrated by a heart that seeks to honor God by honoring those He commands us to love and serve.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, or my community, be prioritizing human traditions or personal convenience over clear biblical commands, especially those related to practical love and care for others?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of what true "piety" or "spiritual devotion" looks like in daily life?**
* **Am I actively seeking opportunities to honor and care for my family, particularly parents or elders, as a direct expression of my faith and obedience to God?**
* **What "loopholes" or rationalizations might I be using to avoid difficult but necessary responsibilities that God has placed before me?**

### FAQ

**What exactly was the "Corban" vow, and why was it problematic?**

Answer: The "Corban" (κορβᾶν, *korban*) vow was a declaration that certain property or assets were dedicated to God, making them sacred and, by tradition, unavailable for ordinary use, including supporting one's parents. While the concept of dedicating gifts to God was biblically legitimate, the Pharisees' interpretation of Corban became problematic because it allowed individuals to declare their possessions "Corban" while still retaining practical control over them, thereby creating a loophole to avoid their moral and divine obligation to care for their needy parents. Jesus condemned this practice because it nullified the clear commandment to honor one's father and mother ([Exodus 20:12](/exodus/20-12 "Exodus 20:12 - The Fifth Commandment")), prioritizing a man-made tradition over God's express will.

**Why was Jesus so critical of this particular tradition?**

Answer: Jesus was critical because the Corban tradition, as practiced, exemplified the Pharisees' broader spiritual hypocrisy. They were meticulously upholding human traditions and outward religious observances while simultaneously neglecting the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness ([Matthew 23:23](/matthew/23-23 "Matthew 23:23 - Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees")). This specific tradition allowed people to appear pious by dedicating resources to God, yet it actively prevented them from fulfilling a fundamental divine command—to care for their parents. Jesus saw this as a direct subversion of God's Word, demonstrating that their hearts were far from God despite their outward religious display ([Mark 7:6-7](/mark/7-6-7 "Mark 7:6-7 - Jesus Quotes Isaiah")).

**Does this passage mean all religious traditions are bad?**

Answer: No, this passage does not condemn all religious traditions. Instead, it condemns traditions that either contradict God's explicit commands or elevate human rules above divine revelation. Jesus' critique is against traditions that become an end in themselves, or worse, become a means to avoid genuine obedience and love. Healthy traditions can be beneficial, helping to transmit faith, reinforce biblical truths, and foster community. However, Jesus teaches that God's Word must always be the ultimate authority, and any tradition that undermines or replaces it is to be rejected ([Colossians 2:8](/colossians/2-8 "Colossians 2:8 - Beware of Human Tradition")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 7:12, with its sharp indictment of the Pharisees' perversion of the Corban vow, points powerfully to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees sought to use a religious tradition to avoid their God-given responsibilities, fundamentally distorting the purpose of the law. In stark contrast, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law, not by legalistic adherence to external rules, but by embodying its true spirit of love and obedience. He lived a life of complete honor to His heavenly Father, always doing His will ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does the Father's Will")), and demonstrating ultimate love for His earthly mother even from the cross ([John 19:26-27](/john/19-26-27 "John 19:26-27 - Jesus Cares for His Mother")). Furthermore, Jesus Himself became the ultimate "Corban," the perfect and final offering to God, not to nullify our responsibilities, but to fulfill them on our behalf and empower us to live lives of genuine obedience and love. His sacrifice on the cross was the true dedication, taking away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and by His perfect offering, He provides the means for us to be truly reconciled to God and empowered to live out the law's demands, not through human traditions, but through the indwelling Spirit ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "Romans 8:3-4 - The Law Fulfilled in Us")). Thus, Jesus exposes the emptiness of man-made religion while simultaneously offering the path to true righteousness and filial devotion through His own perfect life and atoning death.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.