7:11
So how did they set the commandment aside? They had a system of “Corban”, which was a vow. So if someone had vowed to give some money to God, but then it transpired that the money was needed to help their parents, the rabbis did not allow them to be released from the vow, and the money could be used to help their parents. Now look at this more closely. The Law did have rules on the seriousness of vows, and “devoted to God” sounds like a good thing, indeed is a good thing, but the rabbis ruling set aside the fifth commandment. Today a similar situation arises with regard to sexuality, especially homosexuality. Proponents in the church of allowing, even blessing, homosexual relationships, cite many good virtues, such as loving people, being compassionate etc, in favour of their position. But they are then clearly riding roughshod over the Bible’ clear teaching on marriage.
7:12,13
So the rabbis actually stopped people from obeying the fifth commandment. They nullified the word of God. This is also a demonstration that rules alone can never enable us to please God, we need to have the heart of God as well. The Corban example was only one example among many, the practices of the religious leaders were littered with many such cases.
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