Two Groups of Pharisees

 During the time of Jesus, there were many groups among the Jews. Two of the most important were the Hillel school and the Shammai school. Both groups tried to understand the Law of Moses and teach people how to live. But they taught in very different ways.

The Hillel school, founded by a teacher named Hillel, was known for its gentle and practical approach. They believed that God’s commands should help people, not make their lives harder. So they were more flexible, more compassionate, and more open to people who were considered outsiders.

The Shammai school was the opposite—very strict and very rigid. They believed that every rule must be kept exactly, without any relaxation. They focused on purity, separation from sinners, and strict Sabbath laws. They also discouraged contact with Gentiles. Because of this, they often seemed harsh and judgmental.

When we read the teachings of Jesus, we notice something interesting. Though Jesus never mentions Hillel or Shammai by name, many of his ideas sound very close to the Hillel school. For example, Hillel once taught: “Do not do to others what you don’t want done to yourself.” Jesus taught something very similar: “Do to others what you wish they would do to you.” Both emphasized love, kindness, and the heart of the Law rather than the details.

Jesus also taught that the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. This is the same approach the Hillel school had—human need is more important than strict rules. Jesus welcomed sinners, tax collectors, and even Gentiles, which also fits the spirit of Hillel’s teaching.

In contrast, Jesus often clashed with the kind of strict thinking that belonged to the Shammai school. They did not like people mixing with sinners. They condemned healing on the Sabbath. They focused heavily on purity rules. These are the very things Jesus criticized again and again. He believed that compassion was more important than ritual details.

Because of these similarities, some people think Jesus was very close to the Hillel tradition. But we must be careful. Jesus was not a student of Hillel, nor was he officially part of any school. He taught with his own authority and often went far beyond anything Hillel or Shammai taught. For example, Jesus’ command to “love your enemies” is stronger than anything in either school. His vision of the kingdom of God was much wider than the debates of the teachers of his time.

So what can we say? Many scholars agree that Jesus stood closer to the gentle, compassionate approach of Hillel than to the harsh strictness of Shammai. But Jesus was not simply following Hillel. He was offering something deeper and more radical—an invitation to a new way of life built on love, mercy, and total trust in God.

In short, Jesus did not belong to either school, but his heart and his teaching were much more in harmony with Hillel’s spirit than with Shammai’s strictness.