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Mark 7:9-13
He [Jesus] was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
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Jesus was speaking here to the “Pharisees and some of the scribes” [See here, here, and here for discussions on how we know the Pharisees were narcissists*].
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The Mosaic instruction for honoring parents was very serious, as illustrated by the severe consequence for speaking evil of them. So, the Pharisees were caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place – in their greed and selfishness they wanted to keep and use for themselves the money that they should rightfully use to support their parents. But they also did not want to be seen (by God, or by man) as violating the clear Mosaic law.
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The devious solution they came up with created a mechanism that projected an image of “righteousness” while at the same time giving them what they wanted. They would give their money “to God”, but it would still be under their control as to how it would be spent – they would the recipient of their own “generosity” instead of their parents.
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This was not just about the Pharisees giving to a “greater and more worthy cause” than their parents – although they certainly wanted it to look that way. This was a deceitful move – ignoring the requirement to take care of their parents by acting pious while simultaneously being the recipient. They were keeping the money for themselves, shirking their responsibilities, and using the false “piety” to further glorify themselves while covering for their evil behavior.
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This is a classic narcissist move – they create an excuse that cannot be criticized or questioned as a smokescreen and cover for their self-centered and selfish action to get what they want. And, if they can use the smokescreen itself as the very means of getting what they want – all the better.
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