Restoring A Lost Honor
The Crisis of Our Culture: Honor Is Missing
In an age where self-promotion is celebrated and independence is idolized, honor has become a lost virtue.
Not long ago, elders were esteemed, parents revered, and legacy preserved. In Mark 7:6–13 we find Jesus confronting the Pharisees and scribes about their hypocrisy, a spiritual tragedy, in which they’ve exchanged God’s timeless command for our comfort. Today, many people honor celebrities more than their own fathers, and influencers more than their mothers. Like the Pharisees, modern institutions sometimes create policies or doctrines that neglect human suffering or justify self-interest. Jesus exposes such misuse of spiritual authority.
“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men...” (v. 8)
Jesus points our then and now that we didn’t just lose honor by accident—we laid it aside.
Jesus had sharp words for the religious leaders of His day. They looked holy, but their hearts were hollow. They taught rituals, but neglected righteousness. They gave offerings, but refused to help their own parents.
“This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (v. 6)
What if God says the same about us?
We quote Scripture on Sunday but curse your family on Monday.
We give to the church but withhold compassion at home.
We honor pastors, bosses, and strangers—yet roll your eyes at your own parents.
That’s not obedience—it’s spiritual rebellion in religious disguise.
“During this passage it is noted that the practice of “Corban” (Mark 7:11–12) was a legalistic loophole where individuals could declare their assets or resources as “dedicated to God,” thereby exempting themselves from the responsibility of using those resources to support their aging parents—effectively sidestepping the divine command to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12) and directly contradicting the scriptural consequence for dishonoring them (Exodus 21:17).”
The Tragedy of Corban: Excuses Dressed as Devotion
“But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban... he shall be free.” (v. 11)
“Corban” was a loophole—a declaration that property or resources were “devoted to God.” Once declared, that gift couldn’t be used for any other purpose, including supporting one’s parents.
Jesus exposed this as a twisted tradition that allowed people to sound holy while acting selfish.
We do the same today:
“I’m too busy serving God to check on my mom.”
“My tithe is more important than helping my dad.”
“I don’t owe them anything—they weren’t perfect.”
But honor is not based on performance—it is rooted in obedience.
Why Honor Matters to God
“Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death.” (v. 10)
This is not a suggestion—it’s one of the Ten Commandments. God didn't stutter.
He didn’t say: “Honor them if they’re perfect.”
He didn’t say: “Respect them when it’s easy.”
He said: Honor them. Period.
Why? Because honor anchors society. Where honor is missing:
Families fall apart.
Generations stop listening to each other.
Love grows cold.
To dishonor our parents is to participate in cultural decay and spiritual deception.
Questions That Cut to the Heart
Take a moment and ask:
Do my parents feel honored by me?
Have I excused neglect in the name of “boundaries” or busyness?
Have I taught my children how to honor by example—or by absence?
Jesus saw through the performances of the Pharisees. He sees through ours, too.
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition...” (v. 13)
When we cling to convenience over commandment, we deactivate the power of God’s Word in our lives.
Modern Corban: Today’s Justifications for Dishonor
Our generation may not use the word "Corban," but we live out the spirit of it in many ways:
Emotional withdrawal: “They don’t understand me. I’m done trying.”
Selective generosity: “I’ll give to charity, but not to my struggling father.”
Relational isolation: “I’m cutting off toxic people—even my own family.”
Yes, boundaries can be healthy. But honor isn’t the same as closeness—it’s a position of the heart.
You can still respect and care for someone even if the relationship is complex.
Returning to the Root: Honor Begins with God
You cannot truly honor your family until you first honor God—and you cannot truly honor God while dishonoring your family. The foundation of all honor begins with a reverence for the One who created it. If our relationship with God is sincere, it will overflow into the way we treat those closest to us. Worship that avoids responsibility is empty; service that bypasses the needs of family is selfish; and doctrine without devotion is dangerous. Jesus didn’t confront tradition just to criticize—He came to restore truth at its roots. That restoration starts at home, where honor should be modeled, spoken, and lived out daily. When your walk with God is real, it will be evident in the way you honor your parents and family—not just in words, but in tangible, sacrificial love.
If honor has been lost in your life, the good news is—it can be restored. Start by repenting with intention—ask God to forgive the pride, neglect, or bitterness that’s crept into your heart. Then, rebuild communication with those you’ve grown distant from; a call or letter may not fix everything, but humility plants the seeds of healing. Honor isn’t a thing of the past—it’s a kingdom principle waiting to be revived in your life, starting now, starting at home.
