What about the Pharisees Luke describes in today’s gospel (Luke 11:37-41) and the judaizers upsetting Paul’s converts in Galatia (Galatians 5:1-6) with their demands they accept circumcision?

We usually picture the Pharisees as approaching fanaticism in their religious practice. But there’s another picture of the Pharisees history invites us to consider. They were practical people, good organizers who kept the Jewish religion alive after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. They preserved Judaism in the Roman world by concentrating on Jewish practices like circumcision. 

Jewish identity ensured protection before Roman law. Nero seems to have chosen Christians for persecution in the 60s because they were seen as Jewish separatists, non-practicing Jews. In later persecutions, Christians were seen as opponents of Rome because they would not offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. On the contrary, Jews were exempt in Roman law from offering sacrifice because of their religion. They were not persecuted.

Were the Judaizers in Galatia calling for greater Jewish identity from Paul’s converts for the safety it brought before Roman law? Paul refused this accommodation. He upheld faith in Jesus Christ and his Cross even if it brought persecution.

Makes us think, doesn’t it?