Trading God’s Word for Our Way | Mark 7:9-13

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today’s shout-out goes to Mark Glover from Fulshear, TX. Thank you for partnering with us through Project23. Your commitment helps us bring God’s Word to those hungry for truth. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 7:9-13:

And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 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)—then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” — Mark 7:9-13

Jesus confronts the religious leaders for turning God's commands into suggestions—and their preferences into law.

The example he gives is a legal loophole they created to avoid caring for their parents. They’d declare their resources “Corban”—a word meaning “dedicated to God.” It sounded spiritual. But it was a smokescreen. They used it to avoid honoring their father and mother, a clear command from God.

Here’s the point: They used religion to excuse disobedience. They twisted the truth to protect and preserve their selfish way of life. And Jesus calls it what it is: "rejection of God's Word."

This kind of thing still happens today. It’s when we explain away obedience because it's too costly. When we spiritualize selfishness. When we hold to personal ideologies while ignoring biblical commands. When we protect our preferences to avoid making true spiritual sacrifices. Sometimes, we’d rather defend our tradition than deny ourselves. But in doing so, we trade God’s authority for our own comfort.

Have you built spiritual loopholes? Have you ever disguised disobedience with spiritual language? Are you submitting to God’s Word—or just adjusting it to suit you? Guess what? Jesus doesn’t want your spiritual gymnastics. He wants surrendered obedience.

Father, show me where I’ve traded your commands for my comfort. Help me surrender my preferences so I can live in full obedience. Amen.

#ObeyTheWord, #NoSpiritualLoopholes, #JesusOverTradition

ASK THIS:

1. Where am I tempted to explain away hard commands in Scripture?
2. What personal traditions might be limiting my obedience?
3. How do I use spiritual language to justify selfish decisions?
4. What does it look like to honor God’s Word fully this week?

DO THIS:

Identify one area where you're clinging to a personal preference over a biblical principle. Lay it down—and recommit to obeying God’s Word without excuse.

PRAY THIS:

Father, show me where I’ve traded your commands for my comfort. Help me surrender my preferences so I can live in full obedience. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Here’s My Heart” – David Crowder.