Pharisee

Galilee. First century A.D.

“*Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu. Adonai Echad…”

Shimon sang to himself as he ran the smoothening blade across the plank on his workbench. It had become second nature to him to sing from scripture as he partook in his daily work, just like his father and grandfather before him used to do. What better investment, he thought, could he give to his time than to keep his heart on the Scriptures?

Hur, his young apprentice, sauntered over. “Still working on that log, eh Master?”

Shimon smiled, still drawing the plane. “It’s the details, my friend. You can never be too thorough in attending to the details.”

Hur smirked. “I was afraid you’d turn that into a sermon too.”

“Oh, I’ve barely even started,” he replied, winking. “We can’t be too thorough, especially with our hearts. Because it’s the hidden details, the darkest corners of our hearts, that *haShem searches out.”

Hur nodded, amused but used to Shimon’s knack for finding lessons in everything. “He sees all.”

Shimon chuckled, patting him on the back. “He sure does.”

Hur gestured towards the figurine he had been working on in the far corner of the workshop. “Speaking of details, come see what I’ve been working on.”

Shimon had for a long time observed that Hur’s skills were more suited towards woodcarving than simply furniture making, and he had encouraged him in exploring it. Shimon had cordoned off a section of the work-shed for this particular figurine, a special and very expensive commission from King Herod’s contractor.

Hur had just started work on it the previous day, but what used to be a log of wood was already taking shape. In the midst of the dust and fillings littering the floor, the profile of a wooden oak tree with lush foliage and roots spreading in every direction, was already apparent. Shimon had to admit, he initially thought this project was going to be a waste of time, converting a log from an oak tree into a figure of another oak tree. Nevertheless, if royalty was willing to pay for it, they might as well enjoy it. Besides, this was shaping up to be quite an excellent piece.

He folded his arms, “All this, you did today?”

Hur nodded. “It’s the curves that were the hardest bit. The leaves and branches, I’ll figure out later, but I should definitely get this done within the week. I’ll need to get some more polish too.”

Shimon nodded, contemplating the figure before him.

“So what do you think?”

Shimon could tell that he was excited about this work, but he could not commit himself to expressing just how amazing it really was. He had his reservations still, but he also did not want to crush the young man’s spirit.

“It’s shaping up beautifully!” his wife exclaimed from behind them.

They both turned to see Rivka standing behind them, a large bowl of figs in her hands. “And you should be proud about it, even if my husband is too afraid to say it.”

“Who said I was jealous?” Shimon retorted.

“Then just tell him you like it!”

“Of course I like it!”

“And why are you yelling?”

“I’m yelling because you’re making me yell! Of course, we both know Hur is talented and this … this is coming out very nicely. Even a blind man could tell. There, I’ve said it. Hur, your figure is good. You’re great. Everything is great! Happy now, Rivka?”

Now both Hur and Rivka were laughing.

Shimon threw his hands in the air dismissively, walking away. “Oi!” He paused. “Word of advice, young man; don’t get a wife with a brain. Thank me later.”

“Oh really?” Rivka said. “A woman without a brain would make for very boring company.”

“Is that what you think a man is looking for?”

She sauntered closer to him. “I don’t know, what do you think? Did you find what you were looking for?”

Shimon smiled. “And so much more, my lily.”

And they went in for the kiss, Hur cackling in the background. “You are both the weirdest old people I know.”

For all his blather, Shimon knew Rivka was one of the Lord’s greatest gifts to him.

Rivka turned to Hur. “And don’t you have somewhere else you need to be, young man?”

Shimon blinked. “You want to … here?! Now?!”

Rivka winced. “He wanted to get some wood polish? Remember?”

“Oh…”

“Get your mind out of the gutter, dearest!” She swatted at him with a rag. “Some Pharisee you are.”

Hur couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. “I’ll just be going.” His smile remained emblazoned on his face as he put on his cloak.

“And Hur,” Shimon called. “Like Bezalel of old, haShem has truly blessed you with talent, my friend.”

Hur’s eyes twinkled. “Thank you, master.”

“Take a break,” he said. “Be back within the hour.”

Hur nodded as he ducked out.

“You treat him like the son you wish you had,” Rivka whispered. Now they were alone and she could talk freely.

Shimon placed a hand around her shoulders. “Rivka…”

“You can’t pretend you don’t think about it sometimes.”

He caressed her shoulder. “In His time. All things in His time, my dear.” He gestured towards the oak figure before them. “His hands craft our days, moment by moment. He has His purpose in our times and seasons, carving out our destinies. Ours is to remain faithful to His every law.”

She chuckled. “Funny you should use Hur’s figure when you’re clearly ashamed of it.”

He stiffened at that. “I’m not ashamed of it.”

“Of course, hence why you stashed it away in the corner, out of sight from customers.”

“It’s not so simple, and you know it. I just don’t want to cause controversy by putting it out there.”

“And yet you let him explore his creative fantasies in here.”

Shimon had taken Hur under his wing ever since Hanan, Hur’s father and Shimon business-partner, had passed on. “The Lord gave Hur a gift. ‘Blessed be the Lord who gives you the power to make wealth.’ I’m helping him to harness it, guiding him from the baser inclinations and allure of working with ‘graven images.’”

Rivka set the bowl of figs down. “They’re wood carvings, dear, not ‘graven images’. And we’re hardly bowing down to worship them. Even the Tabernacle of old had wood carvings. We’re not breaking any laws.”

He sauntered away, examining the figure. “We may be the more liberal of the sects, but we Pharisees still preserve the sanctity of Torah with good reason.”

“By adding to it. Even you know that it’s getting excessive.”

He took a deep breath. “It’ll have to suffice. It has preserved our culture for generations, and it will for generations to come. One little step out of line and we’re courting with sacrilege. Before you know it, it’s ‘Hello, Sodom and Gomorrah.’”

“And yet,” Rivka motioned toward the figure. “Here we are. Carving in secret.”

Shimon shook his head. “It’s different. What good is preserving appearances if I leave my friend’s boy to potentially worse inclinations? I couldn’t live with myself, dearest. I will appease my conscience and do what’s right, and I’ll hope that God is pleased with my heart. Otherwise I might as well be a palace on the outside, but my heart could just be a dark sepulcher on the inside.”

Rivka offered him a fig. “When you get this sincere about heart matters, you remind me of someo…” She let it trail off, probably realizing she should have thought better of it.

He took the bait. “Who?”

She shrugged. “No, it doesn’t matter.”

But he was quick to spot the nuances when his wife wanted to say something. “Don’t tell me it’s the Nazarene.”

This Jesus from Nazareth was gradually becoming a thorn in the flesh of the Pharisees. The fantastical tales around him included stories of miracles and even the raising of the dead, but what was even more dangerous was his teaching. Some claimed he was Messiah or a prophet. He had attracted a following among the people thus far, and Shimon was careful about what liberties he could be taking in his doctrine which, as many said, was very simplistic.

Rivka groaned. “You can’t throw the baby with the bathwater.”

“You can’t be listening to the Nazarene, Rivka!”

“Why? What has he said or done that is wrong?”

“You should be very wary of who you listen to, Rivka. And of the company you keep.”

“How did this even become about Talia?”

“I didn’t bring her up, you justdid! I’ll bet she’s the one that made you go listen to the Nazarene. I hear all kinds of people like listening to him too. That man should be wary of the company he keeps if he really wants us to accept him.”

“She’s been my friend from childhood, Shimon. She was at our wedding—”

“She’s a harlot! What would people think if they saw you with her?”

Rivka folded her arms, consternation on her face. “Really, Shimon? What would people think? Is that how you want to live your life? No wonder your mind is plagued with so many contradictions.”

Shimon did not have a good comeback for that. “You … I … it doesn’t matter. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She shook her head. “I know you want to do what’s right. But your fear is clouding your judgment. That’s not good ground to build your life upon.”

“Was that another line from Jesus?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. What’s your problem with him?”

“I don’t know, but I’ve been told—“

“Listen to yourself, my dear. ‘You’ve been told?’ What if they were wrong?”

“The people that listen to him. Publicans, outcasts –“

“And you really think he cares what others think?”

“They say people think he may be Messiah. Do you realize just what damage a cult like that can do? What the Romans would do?”

She offered him another fig. “Then talk with him.”

“There is no way I’m going out into the mountains to listen to some vagabond—“

“You don’t have to go out there. Invite him over.”

He looked up at her. “I’m sorry?”

“Offer him the hand of fellowship. Invite him over for dinner, and discuss with him.”

He chuckled. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Why is that? What are you afraid of?”

“Bah!” He turned away dismissively. “I don’t need this.”

“You’re a seeker of truth, my husband. You always have been. You’ve got a sincere heart so much so that you don’t want to displease God even in the minutiae of Torah. I know God sees that. But what if God was bringing an answer to all your questions, and your fear and pride kept you from listening?”

He stared up at Hur’s tree. Mankind had needed to make a decision at a tree once before. Even back then, it had been a man and a woman. It had cost them their place before God and had caused the dilemma they would forever live by; knowing what’s good but always having the predilection for evil. This was Shimon’s dilemma, every single day. It was why he did everything he could to stay away from sin.

If there was one question he would ask of God it would be if this was ever going to get easier. Would they always have to sort this out by their own meager ability? Was God ever going to give them the new spirit He promised to Ezekiel?

“Shimon?”

He turned to her, pulled out of his reverie.

“Get out of your head, my dear. Besides, I hear he used to be a carpenter in Nazareth. You would have so much in common. So much to discuss. Who knows, he might even become a new friend. With Nicodemus now in Judea, Lord knows you need new friends.”

“Like this family needs another scandalous friendship,” he muttered, shooting her a knowing gaze.

Now Rivka looked genuinely shocked, bordering on disgust. “You’re just … hopeless!” She snatched up her bowl of the remaining figs and stormed out.

“Rivka! My sweet lily, wait!”

But she was already gone. He exhaled.

Why am I so good at messing things up?

He knew he really needed help. He needed to settle this. Even if it would mean biting the bullet, he needed to. Dear God, did that mean inviting the Nazarene preacher over?

God, you see my heart.

He would do it. He would do anything to keep her happy. He hoped God would be pleased.

In times like these, he turned to the things he did know how to do well. He returned to his workbench and to the log he had been smoothening. Left to his soliloquy, all he could do was sing just under his breath, hoping to settle back into a sense of normalcy.

Sh’ma Yisrael…

———-

This is a fictional prequel to a story in the Bible. You can read Shimon’s story in Luke 7:36-50, when he hosted Jesus for dinner and, to his horror, Rivka’s friend popped in.

I wrote this story because, the more I read and studied about Pharisees, the less I saw them as the maniacal caricatures I had assumed they were. They were real people with jobs, families, emotions and desires. They were a religious sect, one of many, that had been instrumental in the preservation of Jewish culture during the years of exile. By the time of Jesus, much of Jewish religious scholarship was the staple of Pharisees. Behind all of their many laws was a true love for God and the scriptures, and a desire to please God and stay away from the very shadow of evil.

I saw their nosy approach to ensuring others keep the Law as an extension of their very personal struggles to know and keep God’s law. I’ve learnt that, many-a-time, judgmental people are processing their own guilt and projecting it on others. When judgmental people are in groups, the righteousness of their cause can overshadow every attempt for reason and truth to invade. It’s the classic case of ‘can’t see the forest for all of the trees.’ I know because I have been there many times.

The sad part of their story is that while God had brought the very answer to their questions before their very eyes, their hearts were too clouded by fear and their familiarity with how things ‘ought to be’ to realize what God was doing. Like them, all of humanity was stuck in that struggle of knowing and wanting to do what is good but always being stuck doing what is wrong, trying our best to do what is right. However, God brought a new and living way through Jesus for us all to be able to please God. It would be God living and active through us, helping us to desire and do His will. Compared to the struggle, this is truly a time of refreshing (Acts 3:19). Jesus brought this new life for us all, including Shimon and his fellow Pharisees.

Wherever you and I are in our journey, may we not miss the call and answers the Lord has brought before us. May the eyes of our heart be ever open to Jesus, and may our hearts be never hardened, always ready to receive the life and help that Christ has for us.

Invite Him to lunch in the house of your house.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me. (Revelation 3:20. Easy-to-Read Version)

Amen.

NOTES

* Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu. Adonai Echad: This literally means, “Hear O Israel. The LORD is our God. The LORD is One. It’s the first line of the Sh’ma, a statement of faith for the Israelites that’s usually sung in liturgical ceremonies. It can be found in Deuteronomy 6:4.

* HaShem: This literally means, “The Name.” It’s the term used by Jews in conversation in referring to God, to hallow His Name and probably to avoid blasphemy in mispronouncing it or saying it in vain. In liturgical services, the word ‘Adonai’ (My Lord) was used instead.