Mark 7:12 (KJV)

What does Mark 7:12 mean?

Mark 7:12 means that the religious leaders were allowing people to avoid helping their parents by following a tradition that excused them from their responsibility. Jesus is pointing out that, because of this tradition, people were no longer doing anything to support their father or mother.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He is criticizing them for letting people use religious rules as an excuse not to care for their parents. The context is a discussion about honoring parents, where Jesus shows how their traditions were actually undermining God’s commandment.

The Greek behind Mark 7:12

• "suffer" (ἀφίετε, aphiete): This Greek word is often understood as "allow" or "permit." Here, it highlights that the leaders were actively letting people neglect their parents, not just passively ignoring it.
• "do ought" (ποιῆσαι οὐδέν, poiēsai ouden): This phrase means "to do anything." The Greek emphasizes that the tradition stopped people from doing even the smallest thing to help their parents.
• "more" (οὐκέτι, ouketi): This word means "no longer" or "anymore," stressing that, once the tradition was invoked, all support to parents stopped completely.

Why Mark 7:12 matters

• Mark 7:12 clears up the misunderstanding that religious traditions can override basic moral responsibilities like caring for family.
• This verse emphasizes Jesus’s concern for genuine obedience to God’s commandments, not just outward religious practices.
• Mark 7:12 connects to the wider passage where Jesus challenges the Pharisees for putting human traditions above God’s law, helping the reader see the heart of his criticism.