Rabinowitz & Goldberg by Steve Hemphill
Spend less time...
The oldest law firm in Jerusalem was Rabinowitz & Goldberg. Old man Rabinowitz wanted to attend the Legal Education seminar led by this popular young teacher from Nazareth but was too concerned about his public image. This teacher had made headlines by shutting down the Sadducees. So, he sent his young partners. When they returned, he asked to see the ‘handouts.’
“What, NO HANDOUTS? What kind of a law professor doesn’t provide handouts?” Old man Rabinowitz was skeptical, so he interrogated the young lawyer. “What did you learn about the law?”
Goldberg was ecstatic to tell his mentor, “The Pharisees tried to trick him by asking, ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ The young scholar replied: ‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”
Old man Rabinowitz was very impressed. He had never heard of anybody who could “shut down” the Sadducees AND the Pharisees, but he was more impressed by the enthusiasm shown by his young associate. He had worried Goldberg was burning out both professionally and personally, but ever since he met that young teacher named Jesus, he was different.
Rabinowitz said, “Next time Jesus comes to town, I want to meet him.” The chance never came as Jesus was executed for heresy. Old man Rabinowitz was determined to learn more, and later, he believed. His life was changed, as were many others.
During this season of hope, let’s spend less time worrying about our public image and give more of ourselves to those whom we love. Let’s give devotion to a young law professor who couldn’t even afford ‘handouts’ for his seminar but who changed the course of history and each of our lives, one at a time.