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Encouraged to do so by the Pharisees, people were telling their parents, "Sorry, I can't help you, for I have vowed to give to God what I could have given to you" (Mark 7:11). Here Jesus cites this Corban ("offered") vow as exhibit A for the human tendency to conform to accepted ways of doing things rather than adhere to God's explicit commands.

Matthew 15:1-9

1. What issue did the religious leaders raise with Jesus?
2. Why do you think Jesus, instead of answering their question, countered with one of his own?
3. What did those involved in this face-off understand the honoring of parents to involve?
4. The Pharisees had portrayed diverting assistance to one's parents to the temple fund as exemplary commitment to God's kingdom. Why did Jesus call them hypocrites and label their worship a farce?
5. Do you think that Social Security and Medicare payouts adequately cover the needs of retirees today?
6. Do you suspect there are Christians today who neglect genuine needs of their parents while conscientiously tithing?

Ask God for insight into how He would be pleased for you to honor your parents, and a resolve to follow His will in this area of your life.

1 Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, 2 "Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat."

3 Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? 4 For instance, God says, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, 'Sorry, I can't help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.' 6 In this way, you say they don't need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

8 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'"

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me to grasp how it is that You expect me, as a grown-up, to honor my parents.

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