The ancient peoples of the world had various explanations for the creation of the world, all of which could not match the Hebrew idea of a world created by divine command. The Hebrew world was the product of the mind of God. God said, "Let there be..."

Man was created in his own image. Psalm 8 explains that God "crowned him with glory and splendour"(v.5). He was privileged to run the world but was responsible and accountable to his Creator. He was thus distinct from the other animals for he had a special relationship to God, as he could respond to God.

Through time, this awareness of God was eroded, with man becoming more self-absorbed with formulating their own rules and laws for their own satisfaction, to the extent of ignoring God's Laws. In the Gospel account of Jesus' encounter with the hypercritical Pharisees who complained of the conduct of Jesus' followers, Mark accentuates Jesus' attitude to the "tradition of the elders" (Mk.7:3). He denounces their hypocrisy, citing their circumventing obedience to the Fifth Commandment (Honour thy father and thy mother) by claiming their money/wealth was 'Corban' i.e a gift promised to the temple and therefore not for their parents. They pretended to be holy while failing in their solemn duty to their parents.