Who Were the Pharisees?
The Pharisees were neither priests nor part of the official structure of Judaism. They were an organized movement within Judaism that took a strict approach to the laws in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, also referred to as “the Law”).
What distinguished the Pharisees was their insistence on the observance not only of the written Torah, but also of the oral interpretations that had been passed on and were ascribed to the great figures of the past (e.g. Moses). They looked upon these as a “fence surrounding the Law,” protecting it against violations.
The Pharisees insisted on an extra strict observance of the Sabbath, dietary rules, and ritual cleansings. These practices sometimes put them at odds with Jesus.
St. Paul was a Pharisee before his conversion to Christianity. He says of himself, “I lived as a Pharisee, the strictest party of our religion.” (Acts 26:5)
“Pharisee” appears to be an Aramaic word that meant “separated ones.” Some think it was a name given to this group by those who differed with them.
He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O, God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’” (Luke 18:9-12)
This parable, found only in Luke, is read on the 30th Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time, C Cycle.
It helps to remind ourselves that this is a parable. In the story, both men are talking to God and neither hears what the other is saying. Jesus, who made up the story, can have them say whatever he wishes in order to make his point. Here he has the Pharisee speak to God.
Jesus’ point is that there is a major problem with the Pharisee’s “goodness”: The man acts as though his “goodness” is his own doing.
Stewardship is not a way of handling part of my life. Stewardship is a way of life. It is a pivotal insight that changes everything – as basic as the realization that the earth is round. Simply put, it is the realization that everything comes from God, and we are blessed to be stewards of God’s gifts.
If we perform good works, it is because God’s grace enables us to do so. We can enjoy them, celebrate God’s goodness, but we must never forget the source. Then we can settle in and truly enjoy God’s goodness.
Try it for a few minutes.