GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 7:11
Exchange Rate
Anyone who travels to another nation knows about changing U.S. currency to another nation’s currency—the exchange rate. As of today, 8/9/25, one U.S. dollar exchanges for 18.85 Mexican pesos, while one U.S. dollar exchanges for 0.743 British pounds sterling.
When the delegation of official cultural custodians came from Jerusalem to “shape up” the new preacher, they criticized Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat with ceremonially unclean hands. He, in turn, pointed out to them that, while they made sure ceremonially to wash their hands, they had a way of neatly setting aside a law of God requiring children to honor their parents. “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, whatever you would have received from me is Corban, a gift [dedicated to God].’” (Mark 7:11) In other words, they had exchanged a law of God for a tradition. There are several definitions for “Corban,” but they all hold that anything dedicated to God cannot be used for any other purpose. However, for a scribe, paying temple taxes might be considered using his wealth for God, as well as buying clothes to attend the temple, or purchasing food to keep himself alive to serve God, but would not be considered using his wealth to help ailing or needy parents.
The spiritual “exchange rate,” or Corban, can be subtle, but it always amounts to setting aside a law of God for a tradition of man. For example, insisting that salvation or spiritual worth depends on following specific cultural dress styles, musical preferences, or liturgical forms “exchanges” a tradition for God’s emphasis on heart obedience and faith. Or, historically, purchasing indulgences to grant forgiveness—a tradition—in exchange for salvation through faith. Or excluding fellowship with believers from different ethnic or social backgrounds, a tradition, exchanging that for God’s clear command for unity in Christ.
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