439. Why Was Pinhas Awarded the Priesthood?

July 1981

The evil inclination and the good inclination are not a matter of intellect, but a matter of feeling. If a person does not see any benefit for himself while engaging in Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], he feels bad. This is called “the evil inclination.” The measure of the evil inclination is according to the measure of the sensing of the evil, if he regrets not having grace in the work if he does not see that he will derive from this something for his own benefit.

To the extent of the sensation of suffering from such a state of lowliness, this is considered that he has a big evil. However, if he understands with his intellect that he is not fine in spiritual matters but it does not hurt him, this is not regarded as having an evil inclination, since he does not feel bad.

This is the meaning of “If you encounter this villain, pull him to the seminary,” for precisely when he wants to pull him to the seminary, he sees that he is a villain. However, the advice to be rid of him is precisely through faith above reason, and prayer above reason.