Texts
Explore
Community
Donate
Log in
Sign up
Site Language
עברית
English
Not for its Own Sake
Sources
A
Rav Yehuda says
that
Rav says: A person should always engage in Torah
study
and
performance of
a mitzva even
if he does
not
do so
for their own sake, as through
engaging in them
not for their
own
sake,
he will ultimately
come
to engage in them
for their
own
sake.
Proof for this can be cited from the example of Balak,
as in reward for the forty-two offerings that Balak sacrificed,
even though he sacrificed them to facilitate the destruction of the Jewish people,
he was privileged and Ruth descended from him…
Sanhedrin 105b:12
Anyone who occupies himself with the Torah in order to receive reward or in order to protect himself from retribution is considered as one who is not occupied for the God's sake.
[In contrast,] anyone who occupies himself with it, not because of fear, nor to receive a reward, but rather because of his love for the Lord of the entire earth who commanded it, is one who occupies himself for God's sake.
Nevertheless, our Sages declared: A person should always occupy himself with the Torah even when it is not for God's sake for out of [service which is not intended] for God's sake will come…
Mishneh Torah, Repentance 10:5
MISHNA:
All slaughtered offerings that were slaughtered not for their own sake,
i.e., during the slaughtering the slaughterer’s intent was to sacrifice a different offering,
are fit,
and one may continue their sacrificial rites and partake of their meat where that applies.
But
these offerings
did not satisfy the obligation of the owner,
who is therefore required to bring another offering. This is the
halakha
with regard to all offerings
except for the Paschal offering and the sin offering…
Zevachim 2a:1-2
MISHNA:
The Paschal lamb that
the priest
slaughtered not for its
own
purpose,
i.e., at the time of slaughter he said that his intent was to slaughter it as a different offering, e.g., a peace-offering or burnt-offering, rather than as a Paschal lamb; or if the priest
received
the blood, or
carried
the blood to the altar, or
sprinkled
the blood on the altar while saying that it was
not for the purpose
of the Paschal lamb;
or
if the priest performed the rites both
for its
own
purpose and not for its
own…
Pesachim 59b:11-12
ABSTINENCE IN SECULAR AFFAIRS
Those who practice abstinence in order to secure worldly benefits. Their abstinence is in their limbs but not in their minds and hearts. These fall into three classes: 1) Those who abstain from some of their lusts or pleasures in order to gain a reputation for abstinence, in order to receive praise for their faith and piety, so that through this method they will obtain their full lusts. They are hypocritical in faith and in abstinence. Doing so, in order that men should trust them, deposit their money by them and reveal their secrets to them…
Duties of the Heart, Ninth Treatise on Abstinence 3:16-18
Of the fourth degree are those in whose consciousness the genuineness of the Torah and the truthfulness of reward and punishment in the world to come are firmly established. But their disposition inclines them to love of the world and its lusts; and they use the practices of the service of G-d as snares with which to obtain worldly advantages. They accept the Torah outwardly but not inwardly, with their tongues and not with their hearts. Of such people it is said, "One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he waits in ambush for him" (Yirmiya 9:7)…
Duties of the Heart, Third Treatise on Service of God 4:46-48
He [also] used to say: one who makes his name great causes his name to be destroyed; one who does not add [to his knowledge] causes [it] to cease; one who does not study [the Torah] deserves death; one who makes [unworthy] use of the crown [of learning] shall pass away.
Pirkei Avot 1:13
Related
ראו גם
For its Own Sake
Service of God
The Performance of a Commandment
Learning
Sheets
דפי מקורות
Related Sheets
We use cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site. Click OK to continue using Sefaria.
Learn More
.
OK
אנחנו משתמשים ב"עוגיות" כדי לתת למשתמשים את חוויית השימוש הטובה ביותר.
קראו עוד בנושא
לחצו כאן לאישור