Then he said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, “Honour your father and your mother”; and, “Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.” But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban” (that is, an offering to God)— then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.’ (Mark 7: 9-13)

One aspect of applying Temple rules to daily life was to treat all of one's goods as a sacrifice to God. Just as the Temple priests would derive their needs from what had been given in sacrifice, so the Pharisee's dedicated all they had to God.

That which was given to God could only be used for the purposes of God (or God's priests). At times this was evidently used as an excuse for not helping others. The ritual was observed, while the principles or purposes behind the ritual were neglected.

Jesus reminds us to be attentive to the purpose behind the ritual. In the Books of Moses God has clearly instructed us to honor and care for mother and father, widow, orphan, and stranger. What has been dedicated to God can certainly be used for these purposes.

Some perceive Jesus was himself a Pharisee. He was clearly on friendly terms with some Pharisees. There is a suggestion that Jesus found the rituals of the Pharisees overly complicated. But he does not condemn the rituals themselves.

Rather, Jesus accuses many Pharisees of bringing self-justifying intentions to the practice of their rituals. Korban - a gift or sacrifice to God - is to bring us close to God. If this is not the outcome, it is not truly Korban.