tripurantaka@yahoo.com
Re: Jesus wants disobedient children murdered

Mark
7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso
curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

Hello,

I don't see Mark 7:10 mentioning the word 'children' there, do you?
Yes it does say "Whoso" or to use more modern English "Anyone" (NIV).
But does that include small children who God knows are going to do bad
things until they get to know better? Pr 22:15,

"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of
correction shall drive it far from him." (KJV)

Notice that disobedient small children are to have "correction", not
be put to death.

Also, the context shows that Jesus was referring to mature adults when
he quoted that OT verses and applied it to his Pharisee listeners. In
the previous verse (9), Jesus was making the point:

"You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to
observe your own traditions!" (NIV)

Jesus then goes on (vs 11-13) to show how the Pharisees disregarded
the law of honoring their father and mother etc. The Pharisees said
that once they dedicated their possessions to God (Corban), they could
not use them to help their parents, even when the parents were in dire
need. But they could use those dedicated possessions to help
themselves. That is why Jesus called them "hypocrites" (Mt 15:7) and
violators of God's laws. And as Jesus showed above, under the Law such
conduct towards their parents should be punishable by death.

But esp notice here, that Jesus is referring to mature adults acting
that way to their parents, not small children.

So when Jesus gives us the details in that Pharisees example, he was
helping to define what was meant by the word "Whoso" (or "Anyone",
etc), thus showing it to be responsible adults acting in a bad manner
to their parents. (notice a similar situation at De 21:18-21 and what
age is meant by the word "son")

And under the Mosaic Law that God had set up through Moses, such bad
conduct to one's parents was not to be acceptable.

I hope this has helped you to better understand the meaning the real
application of that Scripture you quoted.


Sincerely, James


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