In other words: don't serve G-d because you expect a reward -- great wealth or even a high place in heaven. . . but because you revere G-d.אנטיגנוס איש סוכו קיבל משמעון הצדיק הוא היה אומר אל תהיו כעבדים המשמשין את הרב על מנת לקבל פרס אלא הוו כעבדים המשמשין את הרב על מנת שלא לקבל פרס ויהא מורא שמים עליכם
Antignos of Socho received the tradition from Shimonthe Righteous. He would say: Do not be as slaves, who serve their master for the sake of reward. Rather, be as slaves who serve their master not for the sake of reward. And the fear of Heaven should be upon you.
Insights Into Pirkei Avos,
Adapted From The Works of The Lubavitcher Rebbe,
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Shlita
Chapter One - Mishna 3
by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger
Do Not Be Like Servants Who Serve Their Master For The Sake Of Receiving A Reward
We find many verses in the Torah which promise rewards for observance of the mitzvos. For example, the Ten Commandments instruct us[15] to "Honor your father and your mother so that your days will be prolonged."This mishnah, like so many of the teachings of Pirkei Avos, is an expression of mili dechassidusa,[16] pious conduct beyond the measure of the Law. In that vein, it teaches that although every mitzvah generates a reward, a person's focus should not be on the reward, but on the very fact that he has been found worthy to serve G-d.
The reward which the mishnah mentions can also be understood as referring to spiritual attainments such as the love and fear of G-d. Just as a person should not focus on the material rewards he will receive for observance, so too he should not have in mind the spiritual benefits it will bring him.
Rather Be Like Servants Who Serve Their Master Without The Intent Of Receiving A Reward
There are other versions of this mishnah[17] which read "be like servants who serve their master without receiving a reward."What is the difference between these two versions? The version included by the Alter Rebbe in his siddur emphasizes that people will receive rewards for divine service, but that the reward should not be the focus of one's attention. The other version, by contrast, negates the very concept of reward. As the Alter Rebbe would say:[18] "I do not want Your Gan Eden, nor do I want Your World to Come. I want only You."
Although the Alter Rebbe himself was able to reach this rung, he realized that it was beyond the reach of most people. Therefore, when choosing the text of Pirkei Avos to be included in the siddur - a text to be used by all people - he chose the former version.
Let The Fear Of Heaven Be Upon You
Our Sages relate[19] that Antigonus of Socho had two talented students, Tzadok and Beitus. When Antigonus taught: "Do not be like servants who serve their master for the sake of receiving a reward," they turned away in disgust, commenting: "Is it proper for a worker to toil the entire day without receiving any recompense?"They began splinter groups which coveted material wealth and rejected the core of Jewish practice.
On finding that they could not convince the majority of the people to reject the Torah, they claimed they were true to Torah, but that the only Torah that was G-dly in origin was the Written Law. The Oral Law, they maintained, was merely a human invention.[20]
Antigonus appreciated that his students' error stemmed from a dearth of yiras shomayim, fear of heaven. Therefore he felt it necessary to emphasize the importance of this quality.
Notes:
- (Back to text) Shmos 20:12.
- (Back to text) Bava Kama 30a.
- (Back to text) Machzor Vitri, Rashi's commentary to the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 19a); see Hemshech VeKocha 5637, ch. 15.
- (Back to text) Cited by the Tzemach Tzedek in Derech Mitzvosecha, p. 138a.
- (Back to text) Avos d'Rabbi Nossan 5:2
- (Back to text) See the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah, Avos 1:3.
