Avos 6:3-4

Avos 6:3

If a person learns a single chapter, a single law, a single verse, a single statement, or even a single letter of Torah from his friend, he must treat that person with honor. We see that David, who was king of Israel, learned only two things from Achitofel but he still called him his teacher, his guide and his close friend, as per Psalms 55:14. If King David, who learned only two things from Achitofel, called him his teacher, guide and close friend, how much more must one who learns a chapter, law, verse, statement or letter of Torah from a friend treat him with honor! We see that honor refers to Torah from Proverbs 3:35, “The wise will inherit honor.” Proverbs 28:10 says, “The perfect will inherit good.” Good also refers to Torah as we see in Proverbs 4:2, “I give you a good doctrine; do not forsake my Torah.”

Avos 6:4

The manner of those who labor in Torah is to eat bread and salt, to drink water in small measures, to sleep on the ground and live a life of adversity while striving in Torah. Regarding one who does this, Psalms 128:2 says, “You will be happy and it will be good for you.” “You will be happy” – in this world – “and it will be good for you” – in the Next World. Don’t seek greatness for yourself and don’t crave honor. Your deeds should exceed your learning. Don’t desire the table of kings because your table (in the Next World) is greater than theirs, your crown (of Torah) is greater than theirs, and your Employer (God) can be relied upon to pay you the wages for your labors.