If you will go in My laws, and observe My commandments, and perform them; then I will provide your rains in their time, and the land will give its produce, and the tree of the field will give its fruit... But if you will not listen to Me, and will not perform all of these commandments; and if you will consider My laws revolting and your being will reject My ordinances...
The Torah mentions three distinct qualities for which Hashem will reward with ample blessings and provisions; 'If you will go in My laws, and observe My commandments, and perform them'. We need to understand the distinctive significance of each of these three virtues, as it would seem that all three are truly just one all-encompassing virtue. Similarly, by the curses as well, the Torah mentions two distinct sinful traits, 'but if you will not listen to Me, and will not perform all of these commandments', which also seems to only be one sinful attitude. And finally, what is the Torah alluding to when concluding with the most awful trait of all, 'and if you will consider My laws revolting and your being will reject My ordinances'?
More than being commanded to abide to and observe the Torah's commandments, and to refrain from violating any of the Torah's transgressions, a Jew is also obligated to actually feel devotion and love towards all of Hashem's commandments, and to feel an utter revulsion towards any sin.
For, although, without love and passion towards the Mitzvos, one may indeed be able to observe the Mitzvos, nevertheless he'll never be able to feel alertness and vigilance towards the Mitzvos, and will thus never be able to fulfill the Mitzvos to their utmost perfection. Similarly, without feeling aversion towards sin, he may indeed be able to refrain from sinning, nevertheless he'll never be able to feel confident that he will retain his righteousness.
It is for this reason that in order to truly be most righteous and virtuous, one must work to instill within himself a love for Torah and a disgust for anything that goes against the Torah.
In view of this notion, we can explain that when the Torah initially says 'If you will go in My laws and observe My commandments', it isn't referring to the actual fulfillment of the laws and commandments, but rather to the preceding virtue which facilitates and brings one to the ultimate righteousness. Accordingly, the Passuk can be understood as follows. 'If you will go in My laws' - alludes to one who feels a disgust towards anything which is antitheses to the Torah. 'And observe My commandments' - alludes to one who feels a love for the Torah's commandments. The Torah then goes on to state that it is this person, the one who achieved these two exclusive virtues, who will indeed be most vigilant and attentive to the Torah's commandments 'and will perform them'. For it is only someone with these two virtues who can be sure to merit to truly perform all Hashem's commandments with the utmost perfection.
Similarly, when the Torah says, 'But if you will not listen to Me', it isn't referring to the transgression of the Torah's commandments, but rather to the prerequisite needed in order to be protected from transgression. The Passuk is thus understood as follows. 'But if you will not listen to Me' - alludes to one who does not love the Torah's commandments and does not feel disgust towards the forbidden sins. The Torah then goes on to bear witness that he will accordingly 'not perform all of these commandments'.
The Torah then refers to someone who stooped even lower; that not only does he not love the Mitzvos and does not feel disgust towards the sins, moreover he even 'considers My laws revolting and rejects My ordinances'.
(Zera Shimshon Parshas Bechukosai, Ot Gimel)
