에스겔 40:4의 Halakhah

Concerning the root of study, the individual must steep himself in study and know the performance of each commandment, as it is written, “A good understanding have all they that do thereafter” (Ps. 111:10). It is not written, “All they that study,” but “They that do.” A man should not read and study and be contumacious with his father or teacher or one who is greater than he. He rather studies on the condition that he teach, observe and do, and this is study for its own sake.¹Nedarim 62a. And whoever studies the Law not for its own sake, better for him that he were not created.²Sifra, ed. Weiss, p. 110b; also Taanith 7a. And anyone who is engaged in the study of the Law and knows its commandments and does not fulfill them, woe unto him and his fortune, that he toils in this world in order to acquire Gehenna.³Yoma 72b. And more severe is his punishment than one who did not learn and did not know how to guard himself, for he understands and deliberately rebels.⁴Shabbath 116a. If an individual understands, he must let his words come forth audibly, and let his ears and eyes be free of all things, and (let him) be open-eyed when studying the Law.⁵Sifre, Deuteronomy 32:46. Where from do we know this? From Ezekiel, as it is written, “Son of man behold with thine eyes and hear with thine ears and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee” (Ezek. 40:4). And is not the entire matter concluded a minori ad majus! If in the case of the Temple which was measured with a yardstick, God said to him to apply his heart, eyes, and ears; would it not be all the more so in the case of matters of the Law, which are as mountains hanging by a hair. One must set aside study periods for the Law each day and night to fulfill what is written: “Thou shalt meditate therein day and night”⁶Shabbath 31a. (Josh. 1:8). One who studies more and one who studies less are equal so long as the heart is directed towards heaven.⁷Berakoth 5b. And better is a little with fear of God, than the abundance of the wicked who study all the day and do not practice.