When you go forth to war against your enemies...and you shall take him captive (Deut. 21:10)
In the war against the Evil Inclination, it is insufficient to merely conquer and subdue it; one must also "take him captive" and utilize one's negative impulses to serve G-d. In truth, there is much to learn from the Evil Inclination, whose G-d given role is to constantly attempt to cause man to sin. We would be well advised to emulate its dedication in fulfilling G-d's Will.
(the Baal Shem Tov)
You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep driven away and hide yourself from them; surely you shall bring them back to your brother (Deut. 22:1)
G-d has implanted within us a wonderful character trait: a willingness and urge to be kind to another Jew that is even stronger than the desire to be kind to ourselves. We can always find reasons why we deserve our own suffering, G-d forbid, but when it comes to another's distress, it is absolutely impossible.
(Hayom Yom)
You shall surely return them to your brother (Deut. 22:1)
In this verse we are commanded to return a lost article. If we are instructed to be so careful not to ignore our neighbor's monetary loss, how much more the loss of his soul. We surely have a double duty to attend to the welfare of a Jew who has wandered from the path of Torah and return him to his Creator.
(Shaloh)
You shall surely return them to your brother (Deut. 22:1)
One who helps his friend, by returning that which he has lost - whether that which is lost is physical or spiritual - actually improves himself. His soul, too, becomes loftier, as our Sages teach: "More than the charity-giver does for the poor person, the poor person does for the charity-giver."
(Sefat Emet)
From our Sages & Moshiach Now! reprinted from LchaimWeekly.org - LYO / NYC
