Rabbi's Talk About the Pharisees

Given the harsh words directed toward the Pharisees, in Matthew's gospel in particular, it's interesting to see what the Rabbi's say about their own:

"Our Rabbis have taught: There are seven types of Pharisees: the shikmi Pharisee, the nikpi Pharisee, the kizai Pharisee, the ‘pestle’ Pharisee, the Pharisee (who constantly exclaims) ‘What is my duty that I may perform it?’, the Pharisee from love (of God) and the Pharisee from fear. The shikmi Pharisee — he is one who performs the action of Shechem. The nikpi Pharisee — he is one who knocks his feet together. The kizai Pharisee — R. Nahman b. Isaac said: He is one who makes his blood flow against walls. The ‘pestle’ Pharisee — Rabbah b. Shila said: (His head) is bowed like (a pestle in) a mortar. The Pharisee (who constantly exclaims) ‘What is my duty that I may perform it?’ — but that is a virtue! — Nay, what he says is, ‘What further duty is for me that I may perform it?’ The Pharisee from love and the Pharisee from fear — Abaye and Raba said to the tanna (who was reciting this passage), Do not mention ‘the Pharisee from love and the Pharisee from fear’; for Rab Judah has said in the name of Rab: A man should always engage himself in Torah and the commandments even though it be not for their own sake, because from (engaging in them) not for their own sake, he will come (to engage in them) for their own sake. R. Nahman b. Isaac said: What is hidden is hidden, and what is revealed is revealed: the Great Tribunal will exact punishment from those who rub themselves against the walls”(Jerusalem Talmud, “Berachot,” 14b; Babylonian Talmud, “Sotah” 22b).

Shimki: Literally the 'shoulder' Pharisee. Probably wore his deeds on his shoulders for everyone to see.

Nikpi: Pharisee who would always wait to act, or 'knocked his feet together'. He tries to find some sort of advantageous act for himself to perform. So, he falls short in his duties as a rabbinical leader since he was unsure if he should or wanted to act.

Kizai: Pharisee who was 'blind' in that he walked around with downcast eyes to avoid looking at the unclean. He 'makes his blood flow against walls' because he can't see where he's going and so runs into walls.

Pestle: The 'humpbacked Pharisee". Probably indicates that he walked around hunched over in false humility.

"What is my Duty": A Pharisee that always kept tabs on the good duties he performed in order to outweigh the bad ones. Or perhaps he thought that he had already fulfilled his obligations.

Love: The Pharisee who acted out of love for God.

Fear: The Pharisee who acted out of fear/awe/respect for God (or possibly fear of punishment).