Digging Deeper: Care for Them as They Cared for You
2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?”
Matthew:2-3 (ESV)
10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do”
Mark 7:10-13 (ESV)
CARE FOR THEM AS THEY CARED FOR YOU
In this passage from Mark, Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ accusation that His disciples are violating a tradition by not washing their hands before they eat. As is typical of Jesus, His response comes in the form of a pointed question directed at His accusers. Jesus asks the Pharisees why they are breaking the Fifth Commandment—to honor their father and mother—in order to satisfy their man-made tradition of “Corban.”
Corban, as defined by theologian John Gill, “signifies a gift, or offering, which was devoted to sacred use and was unalienable, and could not be converted to any other use.” The Pharisees withheld assistance from their parents, justifying their actions through their own tradition and thereby violating a godly commandment. Are we also guilty of using “godly”—and not-so-godly—excuses for neglecting our parents in their senior years?
The message of today’s devotional hits fairly close to home for me. The last 15–20 years of my parents’ lives were spent more than 2,000 miles from where I lived. Consequently, my children and I did not get to see them very often. As the end of their lives approached, one of my sisters lived nearby and was responsible for the majority of their family contact and care. I have always regretted not visiting more often. I really had no excuse, since for most of those years I had free flight privileges through my employer.
The author of Proverbs 23 writes, “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old . . . Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice” (Prov. 23:22, 25, ESV). Matthew Henry comments, “When the mother was grown old, we may suppose the children to be grown up; but let them not think themselves past being taught, even by her, but rather respect her the more for the multitude of her years and the wisdom which they teach.”
Paul told his protégé Timothy to remind the children and grandchildren of a widow that it is pleasing to God “to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents” (1 Tim. 5:4). May we honor our aging parents by caring for them as needed, with love and respect. Trust me—you can never get that time back!
Digging Deeper (er):
1 Tim 5:8; Isa 46:3-4; Ruth 4:15.
Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 6. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his 25 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.