We will now focus on the third parsha beginning with the letter “aleph”: "אם בחוקותי תלכו ואת מצוותי תשמרו ועשיתם אותם"—if you will follow My decrees and observe My mitzvos and perform them. Based on the Toras Kohanim, Rashi comments: “If you will follow My decrees”: One might think that this is a reference to the fulfillment of mitzvos. When it says, “and you will observe My mitzvos and perform them,” the fulfillment of mitzvos has already been stated in the passuk. What then is meant by the phrase “if you will follow My decrees”? That you should occupy yourselves in the labor of Torah.
Thus, we learn another important lesson concerning the acquisition of Torah; Torah can only be acquired by means of strenuous labor and exertion. This is expressed in the Gemara as follows (Megillah 6b): "אם יאמר לך אדם, יגעתי ולא מצאתי אל תאמן, לא יגעתי ומצאתי אל תאמן, יגעתי ומצאתי תאמן". If someone tells you, “I labored in my Torah-study but did not succeed,” do not believe him. “I have not labored, yet I have succeeded,” do not believe him. “I have labored, and I have succeeded,” you may believe him. Elsewhere, we are taught (Berachos 63b): "אמר ריש לקיש, מנין שאין דברי תורה מתקיימין אלא במי שממית עצמו עליה, שנאמר זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל". Reish Lakish said: From where do we learn that words of Torah are not retained except by one who sacrifices himself for her sake? For it is stated (Bamidbar 19, 14): “This is the Torah of a man who dies in a tent.”
